George Tiller's Abortion Trial
George Tiller's Abortion Trial Directly Affects Obama Health Pick Kathleen Sebelius
by Deal Hudson
Late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller will stand trial in Wichita beginning today, charged with 19 misdemeanor counts of failing to obtain a mandatory second, independent physician's opinion to performing a late-term abortion. Tiller is accused of having a financial relationship with his partnered physician, Dr. Ann Kristin Neuhaus, who provided the second opinions. (Evidently it's not so easy to find another physician who agrees with the medical "necessity" of these procedures.) Regardless of what happens to Tiller, there is no doubt that his trial will provide a constant reminder of his relationship to President Barack Obama's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. How close is Sebelius to Tiller, whose clinic in Wichita is nationally known for the availability of late-term abortions? As first discovered by Operation Rescue, Sebelius held a party honoring Tiller at the governor's mansion in April 2007. Only Tiller, his wife, and clinic staff were present at the event. Dr. Tiller has spent millions of dollars helping Sebelius and the Democratic Party through his ProKanDo PAC and non-profit. He spent $1.2 million in the 2006 election cycle alone. Much of Tiller's money targeted pro-life attorney general Phil Kline, who has been the bête noir obstructing the Sebelius/Tiller pro-abortion effort in Kansas. Ref. Source 3
George Tiller Jury Finds Him Not Guilty of Violating State Late-Term Abortion Laws
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- Infamous late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller has been found not guilty of violating Kansas laws requiring a second physician to independently verify that the abortions are supposedly medically necessary. Tiller had relied on an employee to justify the late-term abortions. Tiller relied on fellow abortion practitioner Kristen Neuhaus, an employee of his, to provide the okay for the abortions instead of using an independent physician. Tiller had been charged with 19 counts of violating a state law that requires an independent physician to sign off on the legitimacy of late-term abortions. However, the jury acquitted him on Friday and made it so he avoided a potential charge of a year in jail or a fine of $2,500 for each count on which he could have been found guilty. The three men and three women on the jury took less than an hour to hand down the verdict. When it was read, Tiller squeeed his eyes shut for a moment but showed very little emotion. Members of the pro-life groups Operation Rescue and Kansans for Life filld the courtroom and some cried and others prayed as the decision was read. "Tiller and his family are just happy it's over, with an eminently just result," defense attorney Dan Monnat said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "This whole trial was political." Ref. Source 6
George Tiller Jury Finds Him Not Guilty of Violating State Late-Term Abortion Laws
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- Infamous late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller has been found not guilty of violating Kansas laws requiring a second physician to independently verify that the abortions are supposedly medically necessary. Tiller had relied on an employee to justify the late-term abortions. Tiller relied on fellow abortion practitioner Kristen Neuhaus, an employee of his, to provide the okay for the abortions instead of using an independent physician. Tiller had been charged with 19 counts of violating a state law that requires an independent physician to sign off on the legitimacy of late-term abortions. However, the jury acquitted him on Friday and made it so he avoided a potential charge of a year in jail or a fine of $2,500 for each count on which he could have been found guilty. The three men and three women on the jury took less than an hour to hand down the verdict. When it was read, Tiller squeeed his eyes shut for a moment but showed very little emotion. Members of the pro-life groups Operation Rescue and Kansans for Life filld the courtroom and some cried and others prayed as the decision was read. "Tiller and his family are just happy it's over, with an eminently just result," defense attorney Dan Monnat said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "This whole trial was political." Ref. Source 2
Late-Term Abortion Practitioner George Tiller Shot and Killed Outside Church
Wichita, KS (LifeNews.com) -- Late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller was shot and killed Sunday morning at his church in Wichita, Kansas. Tiller had long been highlighted by peaceful pro-life groups who had employed legal means to attempt to hold him accountable for potential illegal abortions at his abortion center. Tiller, who was 67 and one of the few abortion practitioners in the United States to do late-term abortions, was killed Sunday morning at Reformation Lutheran Church shortly after 10 a.m. According to police and local officials, Tiller was shot in the lobby of the church while distribuing church bulletins to attendees. The gunman shot Tiller, confronted to church members and fled the scene in a late-model vehicle registered in another part of the state of Kansas. Hours after the news of the shooting, authorities indicated they had apprehended the alleged shooter near Gardner, Kansas at around 2 p.m. Local time.Wichita police Capt. Brent Allred had said that the FBI and the KBI were called in to assist officials with apprehending the shooter. Ref. Source 4
Suspected George Tiller Shooter Scott Roeder Not Charged Monday in Killing
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Local authorities are not expected to file charges today against Kansas resident Scott Roeder related to the shooting death of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller. Roeder is suspected of killing Tiller Sunday morning at his church with a handgun. Roeder, who has no connections with the pro-life movement but has ties with anti-government militia groups, is currently detained at Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of murder and aggravated assault. Local prosecutors had expected to bring Roeder before a court today to officially file charges, but it appears their investigation will continue today and that it will be tomorrow before that happens. In a press conference Monday morning they confirmed that charges had not yet been filed and did not release any new information other than to say that the FBI has also been investigating the case. Roeder will likely be charged with murder in connection with Tiller's death and may face aggravated assault charges for allegedly threatening two members of Tiller's church with his gun during the confrontation. Roeder, a 51-year-old white male, was arrested near the Gardner exit of Interstate 35 south of Kansas City hours after the shooting. He is being held without bond in the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility. Ref. Source 9
Abortion Clinic Manager Reveals He Warned FBI of Suspect in Murder of Dr. George Tiller, Says Killing Could Have Been Avoided
We speak to the manager of a Kansas City abortion clinic who says he twice told the FBI last week about the suspect in the murder of abortion provider Dr. George Tiller, including the day before the killing. The suspect, Scott Roeder, vandalized the Aid for Women clinic by locking its doors shut. Using the pseudonym "Jeff Pederson" to protect his identity, the clinic manager says Tiller's death could have been avoided had the FBI acted on his warnings. Ref. Source 7