Judge delays start of Kan. abortion trial after challenge to voluntary manslaughter defense

Judge delays start of Kansas abortion trial

WICHITA, Kan. — Jury selection in the trial of a man charged with killing one of the nation’s few late-term abortion providers has been delayed to give prosecutors time to challenge a key ruling in the case.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin Monday for murder suspect Scott Roeder. But it was delayed after prosecutors challenged last week’s decision by a judge allowing the defense to build a case for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

A hearing on that filing was set for Tuesday afternoon.

Roeder faces a premeditated, first-degree murder charge in the May 31 death of Dr. George Tiller, who was shot while serving as an usher at his Wichita church.

Roeder also is charged with two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at two ushers who tried to stop him after the shooting.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jury selection in the trial of a man charged with killing one of the nation’s few late-term abortion providers has been delayed to give prosecutors time to challenge a key ruling in the case.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin Monday for murder suspect Scott Roeder. But it was delayed after prosecutors challenged last week’s decision by a judge allowing the defense to build a case for the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

A hearing on that filing was set for Tuesday afternoon.

Roeder faces a premeditated, first-degree murder charge in the May 31 death of Dr. George Tiller, who was shot while serving as an usher at his Wichita church.

Roeder also is charged with two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a gun at two ushers who tried to stop him after the shooting.