Judge Warren Wilbert ruled for the second time yesterday that Scott Roeder, who has confessed to allegedly murdering George Tiller, MD, in May 2009, can pursue a voluntary manslaughter defense. Wilbert first ruled on Friday of last week to allow evidence in support of a voluntary manslaughter verdict. Roeder has attempted to justify the murder as necessary to save the lives of fetuses that would be aborted. Katherine Spillar, Executive Vice President of the Feminist Majority Foundation, said in a statement, “Let there be no mistake, the rulings of Kansas Judge Warren Wilbert are being seen by extremists as a green light for those who would murder abortion providers.” Don Spitz, who manages the Army of God website and advocates the murder of abortion providers as “justifiable homicide,” has been in touch with confessed killer Scott Roeder. According to the Associated Press, Spitz believes the decision may influence some people to kill abortion providers because of the possibility of a lower sentence for voluntary manslaughter. Spitz said that the decision “may increase the number of people who may be willing to take that risk.” Roeder has been charged with one count of pre-meditated murder and two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly threatening church ushers immediately after the murder. Defense attorneys could argue for a lesser sentence such as voluntary manslaughter, which Kansas defines as “an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force.” Roeder could receive life in prison if he is found guilty of first-degree murder or he could receive a shorter sentence of approximately 5 years if the jury finds him guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
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