The man accused of murdering prominent Kansas abortion provider Dr. George Tiller has testified at his trial that he did fatally shoot the doctor.
Scott Roeder (ROH-der) testified Thursday that he killed Tiller in the foyer of Tiller's Wichita church on May 31.
The 51-year-old Roeder also said he believes abortion is murder.
Roeder took the stand just after District Judge Warren Wilbert barred Kansas' anti-abortion crusading former attorney general Phill Kline from testifying.
Roeder has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the case.
The defense wants to show that Roeder was relying on Kline's belief that Tiller was breaking the law - a potential step toward a lesser manslaughter conviction.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A judge has barred Kansas' former attorney general from testifying before the jury at the trial of a man accused of killing abortion provider Dr. George Tiller.
Judge Warren Wilbert listened to a preview of Kline's testimony without the jury present on Thursday before ruling that it was irrelevant and inappropriate to defendant Scott Roeder's (ROH-ders) case.
Wilbert said portions of Kline's testimony were exactly what he wants to avoid at the trial, which he has said he doesn't want to turn into a referendum on abortion.
Defense attorneys argued that Kline's testimony was necessary to show that Roeder relied on Kline's belief that Tiller was breaking the law.
Roeder has confessed to shooting Tiller on May 31. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault.
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Scott Roeder (ROH-der) testified Thursday that he killed Tiller in the foyer of Tiller's Wichita church on May 31.
The 51-year-old Roeder also said he believes abortion is murder.
Roeder took the stand just after District Judge Warren Wilbert barred Kansas' anti-abortion crusading former attorney general Phill Kline from testifying.
Roeder has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the case.
The defense wants to show that Roeder was relying on Kline's belief that Tiller was breaking the law - a potential step toward a lesser manslaughter conviction.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A judge has barred Kansas' former attorney general from testifying before the jury at the trial of a man accused of killing abortion provider Dr. George Tiller.
Judge Warren Wilbert listened to a preview of Kline's testimony without the jury present on Thursday before ruling that it was irrelevant and inappropriate to defendant Scott Roeder's (ROH-ders) case.
Wilbert said portions of Kline's testimony were exactly what he wants to avoid at the trial, which he has said he doesn't want to turn into a referendum on abortion.
Defense attorneys argued that Kline's testimony was necessary to show that Roeder relied on Kline's belief that Tiller was breaking the law.
Roeder has confessed to shooting Tiller on May 31. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated assault.
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