Jury selection delayed in Roeder trial

[ck4829]

Jury selection in the trial of the man charged with killing Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller has been delayed until Wednesday.

A statement issued by the court this morning said the delay was “due to additional legal issues that have surfaced over the weekend.”

Scott Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, is charged with first-degree murder in the May 31 shooting death of Tiller inside his church. Roeder also faces two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly threatening two ushers.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin today, with 61 jurors reporting. The process was expected to take from two days to a week.

In a surprise move on Friday, Sedgwick County District Judge Warren Wilbert said he would allow the defense to present testimony that Roeder acted “upon an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force.” That means jurors could have the option of finding Roeder guilty of voluntary manslaughter, which carries a much lighter sentence than first-degree murder.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1676602.html

[atreides1]

1. A new defense for murderers

“upon an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force.”

I can see this being used as precedent the next time someone like Roeder commits the same crime!

After reading the article, I think we can safely assume that either someone "got" to the judge, or he's already in the anti-choice corner?

[blondeatlast]

2. Your thinking is understandable. My guess, however, is that the judge

found enough case law to back the "justifiable" claim and that he is entertaining only to soothe some twitchy nerves.

Just because he allows it doesn't mean he will hold with it. I certainly hope not.