Update 5:13 pm eastern:
Both the defense and prosecution have rested. Court resumes tomorrow morning at 10 am eastern.
The final exchange between DA Foulston and Roeder during cross examination:
Roeder: Somebody needed to do it.
Prosecution: And do you feel that you have successfully completed your mission?
Roeder: He’s been stopped.
Prosecution: Do you feel as if you have successfully completed your mission?
Roeder: Yes.
Prosecution: I have no further questions
Update 3:59 pm eastern:
Scott Roeder just admitted, during cross examination by the prosecution, that in August 2008 he went to Dr Tiller’s church. He acknowledged to District Attorney Nola Foulston that he had a 9mm handgun in his jacket pocket and was there with the sole intent of killing Dr Tiller. He says he was disappointed that Dr Tiller was not in church that day.
He attempted again on May 24, 2009, but again Dr Tiller was not in church that day. He came back the next week and shot and killed Dr George Tiller on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
Update 3:27 eastern :
Scott Roeder admits to considering chopping off Dr Tiller’s hands with a sword. He says he wanted to stop him, but realized that if Tiller survived he could still educate others in the practice of abortion. Dr Tiller had to die, according to testimony.
Earlier Roeder testified that he had staked out Dr Tiller’s home, in consideration of killing him in his house. He scrapped that plan after realizing the Tillers lived in a gated community. Roeder admits he was unable to gain access to Dr Tiller at his clinic because it was heavily fortified with bulletproof glass, gates and guards. Roeder also says he considering crashing his car in to Dr Tiller’s, but decided against it to avoid harming others.
Update 12:36
Defense: In the event of a rape?
Roeder: I do not believe that that is justified.
Defense: why not?
Roeder: because you are taking the lives of the innocent, for the sins of the father
Defense: what about incest?
Roeder: again, you are taking the sins of the father, you would be punishing the innocent.
Prosecution: objection
Judge to the jury: please disregard last statement.
Update 12:31:
Defense asks Roeder’s opinion on abortion in the event to save the mother’s life.
Roeder: “I struggle with that decision because I believe it is up to our Heavenly Father”.
Defense : “What about in order to save the woman’s mental health?”
Roeder: “Absolutely not”
Update 12:29
Roeder says in 1992 watched the Christian show 700 Club, alone in living room , knelt down and accepted Christ as savior. Prior to this says he was not involved in anti-abortion movement. Became a born-again Christian and began to develop stronger views on abortion. Says his religious views went “hand-in-hand” with views. Roeder says from conception forward, abortion is murder.
Update (12:26 on Jan 28, 2010):
Roeder says that later in life he began to develop his anti-abortion beliefs.
Update (12:22 on Jan 28, 2010):
Scott Roeder is on the stand right now. Admitted to defense attorney that he purchased the .22 caliber handgun he used on Dr George Tiller.� He also admits to practicing shooting at his brother-in-law’s house.� Says he checked into a Wichita hotel on May 30th, the day before killing Tiller.� Defense attorney asks if he went to Reformation Lutheran Church on May 31st and killed Dr Tiller, Roeder, answers, “yes”.
Update (12:10 on Jan 28, 2010):
Defense has started it’s opening statements.
Update (12:02 Eastern on Jan 28, 2010):
the defense has told Judge Warren Wilbert that it intends to call Scott Roeder to the stand.� Immediately afterward, Judge Wilbert asked Roeder to stand, while he explained he had a right against self incrimination.
Scott Roeder, the admitted shooter who killed Dr George Tiller, is expected to take the stand today in a Kansas courtroom. On May 31, 2009, Roeder walked into The Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita and shot Dr Tiller point blank in the head with a .22 caliber handgun. Roeder has said he believes what he did was necessary to protect the lives of the unborn. Dr Tiller and his Women’s Health Services clinic, which is now closed, provided late-term abortions to women for more than 30 years. Judge Warren Wilbert says he will allow Roeder to express his views on abortion, but talk of medical procedures and details of abortions performed in the third trimester will not be granted.