Judge Mulls 'Necessity Defense' in Doc Killing

Roeder claims he had to kill abortion physician to save fetuses
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 22, 2009 4:52 AM CST
Judge Mulls 'Necessity Defense' in Doc Killing
Scott Roeder attends his preliminary hearing in a Wichita, Kan., court in July.   (AP Photo/Jaime Oppenheimer, Pool)

A Kansas judge will begin hearing motions today about whether or not to allow the killer of an abortion doctor to present a "neccesity defense," claiming that it was necessary to kill the physician to save fetuses. Scott Roeder, 51, has admitting gunning down Dr. George Tiller last spring at the doctor's Wichita church. The prosecution has filed a motion to block Roeder's planned defense. He's scheduled to go on trial next month.
(More George Tiller stories.)

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