Dr. Tiller's Accused Murderer in Court Tomorrow

Posted by Amy Dempsey, RH Reality Check at 11:00 AM on July 27, 2009.

Scott Roeder, who is charged with the murder of Dr. George Tiller, will be in court hearing scheduled for Tuesday to hear the evidence against him. Roeder is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault, according to The Associated Press.

Dr. Tiller, one of the country's few late-term abortion providers, was shot May 31 while serving as an usher at his church.

If there is a trial, Roeder's mental health may be used by defense attorneys. Although Roeder denies that he is mentally ill now, he said that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his late teens, but blames it on drug use, according to The AP.

In the article, Roeder said, "Drugs are not a problem. My mental illness came from the use of drugs...When I quit, I haven't had any problems."

"In several interviews with The AP, Roeder has stopped just short of confessing to Tiller's shooting. While talking at length about the notion of justifiable homicide against abortion providers, he has refused to discuss any facts of the case.

Asked if he thinks Tiller's shooting was justified, Roeder replied, 'Well, yeah. The thing is, how could it not be? Again, you know, he was in the business, and had been for many years, of taking the lives of unborn children. So if the lives of born children are worthy of protection, why would not the lives of unborn children be worthy of protection? That is really what it comes down to.'"

Tagged as: abortion, mental illness, schizophrenia, associated press, scott roeder, dr. george tiller

Amy Dempsey is an intern at RH Reality Check. She has a degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton.