Jury reaches verdict in murder trial involving Kansas abortion provider’s slaying

Jury reaches verdict in Kan. abortion slaying case

WICHITA, Kan. — Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial of a man accused of killing a Kansas abortion provider.

It took the jury just 37 minutes Friday to reach the verdict in confessed killer Scott Roeder’s (ROH’-durs) trial. It was to be read late Friday morning.

Roeder has said he shot Dr. George Tiller on May 31 to protect unborn children.

His lawyers on Thursday failed to make a case for a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. The judge also refused to allow the jury to consider a second-degree murder conviction.

If convicted of first-degree murder, the 51-year-old faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

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

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jury deliberations have begun in the trial of the man accused of killing a Kansas abortion provider.

The jury is considering whether Scott Roeder (ROH’-dur) is guilty of premeditated first-degree murder in Dr. George Tiller’s death.

Roeder’s lawyers on Thursday failed to make a case for a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. The judge also refused to allow the jury to consider a second-degree murder conviction.

Roeder has said he killed Tiller to protect unborn children.

If convicted of first-degree murder, the 51-year-old faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Prosecutors could later ask the judge to impose a so-called “Hard 50″ sentence, which would require him to serve at least 50 years before he can be considered for parole.