sweet jeezus. how's this for irony?

Roeder on the stand:

"It is not man's job to take life — it's our Heavenly Father's. He is our creator, he gives and takes life. It's never up to man to take life, except in defence of self or others."

yeah, because being in church is a real threat to anyone.

I despise this murderous cretin and the disgusting piece of shit judge who's letting him mount this travesty of a defence.

GOOD.... I also take heart in that he has cut off Roeder's attempts to inflame the jury with supposed descriptions of abortion procedures AND he has reminded the defendant's attorneys they must establish imminent danger and that abortion is legal in KS.

I think (and hope) the judge is giving them just enough rope.... before he reels them in, leaving them without a defense.

"I think (and hope) the judge is giving them just enough rope.... before he reels them in, leaving them without a defense."

God, I hope I never go to court if that's what the legal system's goals are.

I hope I am not... but I think the reason for him not shutting the door automatically to involuntary manslaughter (which thus made it possible to attempt the "justified deadly force" argument) is that he knew that KS law also requires them to show imminent danger posed by the doctor, something they would be hard pressed to do, given Dr. Tiller was worshipping in church at the time (and abortion is legal in KS).

Per the article on Yahoo:

Voluntary manslaughter in Kansas is defined as "an unreasonable but honest belief that circumstances existed that justified deadly force." A conviction on the lesser charge involves considerably less prison time.

Wilbert reminded Roeder's attorneys in court Wednesday that they must couple a voluntary manslaughter defense with a showing of imminent danger posed by the doctor. He noted abortion is legal in Kansas.

Wilbert will rule later on whether to allow jurors to consider the lesser charge.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100128/ap_on_re_us/us_abortion_shooting_trial

I guess I don't get your point. Judges must give latitude to all possible defenses that is consistent with current law....:shrug:

While I detest this man and what he did, I am hoping that is what is behind this judges' rulings to date and that he is not biased per his own personal beliefs and history to provide inappropriate latitude because of the abortion angle.

...believe what the POS said.

I understand the feeling, and this is when it's most important to stick to one's principles. But I hope for and believe he will get a swift conviction and a life sentence. My angry side wishes for worse, but that's not what I stand for.

No one was in imminent danger of Dr. Tiller, not only because under the law a fetus is not a person, but because he was clearly not a threat as he attended church.

which they surely can not, the judge will disallow consideration of the lesser offense in his jury instructions. I agree that I wish it weren't being allowed for consideration at all...

Our justice system has rules of evidence. He does not want to follow them. By no coincidence, he had a sense of entitlement that made him think he could violate the law, and commit a cold-blooded murder. Hence, while his attempt to ignore the rules of evidence -- to fit his "special needs" -- is not surprising, your OP is absolutely correct.

is trying to game the system. His goal is to make it OK to kill "cuz Jeeezus tole me ah could do it".