Man who killed abortion doctor gets more lenient sentence

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Tiller’s murder was among the most notorious acts of violence since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the procedure nationwide in 1973. It alarmed the abortion rights community and came as numerous conservative states, including Kansas, passed restrictions making it harder for women to obtain abortions.

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The hearing Wednesday came just days before Roeder was set to go before a jury on Monday for what had been anticipated to be a two-week sentencing hearing. Roeder’s original life sentence with no chance of parole for 50 years was among many vacated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that juries, not judges, must decide whether to increase punishment.

“I was really shocked about today,” Roeder said in a prison phone call to The Associated Press after the hearing. “I was glad obviously to hear the sentence reduced, but I was looking forward to being another voice for the unborn — so I was disappointed in that respect.”

He said he knew the consequences of his actions going in and has “no regrets” because children have been saved because of him.

Roeder, who suffers from prostate problems, looked much thinner than at his initial sentencing in 2010 and was subdued throughout the proceeding. He chose not to make a courtroom statement before the judge pronounced his sentence.

That was in contrast to the previous sentencing hearing that Roeder used as a forum to espouse at length his anti-abortion views in an effort to justify his killing the doctor to save unborn babies.

Bennett told reporters after the hearing that “rather than putting the community and the victim’s family and witnesses through another contested hearing” in order to extend a 58-year-old inmate’s parole eligibility from 25 to 50 years, the state decided to withdraw the request.

He cited Roeder’s declining health and doubts he would live long enough to ever get out of prison. Bennett said the decision was made “in the best interest” of the community and Tiller’s family.

Bennett also read a statement from Tiller’s family saying nothing will change the fact Tiller was assassinated, and the family continues to grieve his loss. The family cited the “very difficult and emotionally draining trial” in which Roeder was found guilty, and thanked those involved for ensuring it was a fair trial.

Tiller’s family said they had decided to support the sentence of a minimum 25 years in prison without parole.

“With this legal closure, the Dr. George Tiller family will continue to heal and thrive and live fully in our communities,” their statement said.

The abortion rights group Trust Women, which opened a clinic in 2013 in the same facility where Tiller once practiced, said in a statement its staff is grateful the doctor’s family has some measure of closure and healing. Its founder, Julie Burkhart, said Roeder deserves the maximum sentence allowed by law.

“Dr. Tiller’s assassination most certainly left a hole in the reproductive rights movement, but we remain committed to this critical work in his honour and memory,” Burkhart said.

Defence attorney Mark Rudy said after the hearing that he thinks his client is relieved it is over, and no appeal is planned. The defence has already lost on every other appeal issue and this is the minimum sentence Roeder could hope to receive, he said.

“We are glad we can put this to rest,” Rudy said.

Roxana Hegeman, The Associated Press