Scott Roeder

51-year-old Scott Roeder has been formally charged in the death of Dr. George Tiller.  Roeder appeared by video link in court Tuesday.  The judge formally charged him with one count of First Degree Murder and two counts of Aggravated Assault. He was ordered to have no contact with the Tiller family. The judge set a preliminary hearing date of June 16th. Read the Complaint Against Roeder

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Lawyers for a man who has publicly admitted killing a Kansas abortion provider are seeking to move the trial out of Wichita. Scott Roeder is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 11 in Sedgwick County District Court. The 51-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the May 31 shooting death of Dr. George Tiller. In an interview from jail, Roeder told The Associated Press on Monday he had no regrets about shooting Tiller and believes it was justified to save unborn children.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Online retailer eBay will not allow an auction to raise money for the man charged with killing Wichita, Kan., abortion doctor George Tiller. EBay issued a statement Tuesday saying the auction would violate its policy on "offensive material. " EBay also said it would remove the items if they are posted. Scott Roeder is charged with first-degree murder in the May 31 shooting of Tiller at the doctor's Wichita church. Supporters of Roeder said they wanted to auction off such things as an Army of God manual, which is an underground publication for anti-abortion militants that describes ways to shut down clinics, including bombing.

Update - Tuesday 12:15 am: WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A judge says a "necessity defense" in the trial of a man accused of killing Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller is "not viable" under state law. Tuesday's ruling was another blow to lawyers for 51-year-old Scott Roeder, who has confessed to fatally shooting Tiller on May 31 but says it was necessary to save unborn children. Judge Warren Wilbert cited state Supreme Court opinions that the "necessity defense" in the case is not viable under Kansas law. But he left open the door to consider whether he will allow evidence on the use of force for the defense of another person.

By Kim Wilhelm (WICHITA, Kan.) The man accused of killing a Wichita abortion doctor is now being held on a $20 million dollar bond.  Scott Roeder is currently in the Sedgwick County Jail.  He's accused of shooting Dr. George Tiller and threatening two other people.  Roeder's original bond was set at $5 million dollars but last week, Judge Warren Wilbert increased the bond to $20 million after hearing a request from prosecutors.  District Attorney Nola Foulston says circumstances have changed since Roeder's last bond hearing on June 4th.  Since then, Roeder has talked to two media outlets from jail.

by Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) Prosecutors have filed a motion opposing any kind of voluntary manslaughter or imperfect self-defense jury instruction in the Scott Roeder murder trial, essentially saying it could open Pandora's Box.  The motion has caused jury selection for the trial, originally scheduled for Monday, to be pushed back to Wednesday morning. Roeder has admitted to killing Wichita late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller as Tiller served as an usher at his east Wichita church last May. Last Friday, Judge Warren Wilbert said he'd consider the defense of others strategy at trial.

As the nation watched, it took seven men and five women less than an hour to convict Scott Roeder of murdering a Wichita abortion provider. Roeder's six-day murder trial ended with a first degree murder guilty verdict Friday morning. It only took jurors 37 minutes to agree Roeder planned and carried out Dr. George Tiller's murder. Roeder took the stand in his own defense Thursday, admitting to killing Tiller as the doctor served as an usher at his east Wichita church. It took attorneys less than an hour to give jurors closing arguments. Prosecutors called the murder an "assassination" and told jurors Roeder had thought of killing Tiller since 1999, "10 years worth of premeditation.

Read reporter Cliff Judy's courtroom blog at the bottom of the page. By Chris Durden & Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) District Judge Warren Wilbert gave prosecutors what they wanted, the "Hard 50" sentence for Scott Roeder. That means Roeder won't be eligible for parole for at least 50 years. In January, a jury convicted Roeder of shooting Dr. George Tiller while he served as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. On Thursday, Roeder scolded the judge presiding over his sentencing hearing, saying he denied the defense he wanted to bring.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The church where a Kansas abortion provider was killed held its Sunday worship service, a week after the shooting. The congregation of Reformation Lutheran Church held the 10 a.m. worship service. Last Sunday, George Tiller was shot to death while serving as an usher at the church. An armed police officer stood guard in the sanctuary and police cars were in the parking lot. Pastor Kristin Neitzel called it part of "the journey of healing. " Scott Roeder has been charged in the killing and is being held in a Sedgwick County jail.

Statement Sent on Behalf of Dr. George Tiller's Family Lee Thompson, attorney for Dr. George Tiller's family, issued the following statement today at the request of Mrs. Jeanne Tiller and the Tiller family following the sentencing of Scott Roeder. "The sentence handed down today was appropriate. It is the most severe penalty available to Judge Wilbert under Kansas law. This crime was cruel and heinous not only because it took our husband, father and grandfather; but because it was a hate crime committed against George – but also against all women and their constitutional rights.

Read reporter Cliff Judy's courtroom blog at the bottom of the page. By Chris Durden & Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) District Judge Warren Wilbert gave prosecutors what they wanted, the "Hard 50" sentence for Scott Roeder. That means Roeder won't be eligible for parole for at least 50 years. In January, a jury convicted Roeder of shooting Dr. George Tiller while he served as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. On Thursday, Roeder scolded the judge presiding over his sentencing hearing, saying he denied the defense he wanted to bring.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The man who gunned down one of the nation's few late-term abortion providers will get an opportunity to speak at his sentencing next week. Scott Roeder also has asked some longtime friends to testify as character witnesses. The 52-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted in January of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault in the May 31 death of Dr. George Tiller at the doctor's church. District Judge Warren Wilbert has limited discretion when it comes to handing down a sentence on Thursday.

As the nation watched, it took seven men and five women less than an hour to convict Scott Roeder of murdering a Wichita abortion provider. Roeder's six-day murder trial ended with a first degree murder guilty verdict Friday morning. It only took jurors 37 minutes to agree Roeder planned and carried out Dr. George Tiller's murder. Roeder took the stand in his own defense Thursday, admitting to killing Tiller as the doctor served as an usher at his east Wichita church. It took attorneys less than an hour to give jurors closing arguments. Prosecutors called the murder an "assassination" and told jurors Roeder had thought of killing Tiller since 1999, "10 years worth of premeditation.

by Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.) Scott Roeder took the stand Thursday morning with the idea of testifying in his own defense, but it didn't take long for him to admit to killing a Wichita abortion provider.  Late Thursday, Judge Warren Wilbert also ruled jurors will not be allowed to consider the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Roeder had already told media and the court he killed Dr. George Tiller.  Tiller was serving as an usher at his east Wichita church when Roeder walked up behind him, put a .22-caliber handgun to Tiller's forehead, and pulled the trigger.

By Eyewitness News (WICHITA, Kan.) Courtroom personnel and media are preparing for the start of the Scott Roeder trial. Press from all over the country will be in Wichita covering the proceedings. Roeder goes on trial Monday. He's accused of killing Wichita abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. Prosecutors say Roeder shot Tiller in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church on May 31st of 2009. Roeder plans to argue the killing was justified to protect unborn children.