Spotlight on trial in abortion doctor's slaying

By Carey Gillam

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - The Kansas trial of an anti-abortion activist accused of gunning down one of the few late-term abortion providers in the United States is set to begin this week in a case that has galvanized people on both sides of the contentious debate over abortion.

Abortion rights supporters and abortion foes say the stakes are high after the trial judge said he would allow defendant Scott Roeder's lawyers to argue that his actions amounted to the lesser crime of voluntary manslaughter, not murder.

Roeder, 51, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Dr. George Tiller, a 67-year-old abortion provider who was shot in the head while serving as an usher at his Wichita church in May 2009.

Court officials, who have beefed up security surrounding the trial in Wichita, said jury selection, which had been scheduled to begin on Monday was postponed until Wednesday due to unspecified "additional legal issues that have surfaced."

Roeder, from the Kansas City-area suburb of Merriam, Kansas, has admitted in news media interviews that he killed Tiller. But he has said his actions were justified in order to prevent Tiller from performing further abortions.

Sedgwick County District Judge Warren Wilbert surprised both sides last week when he said he would allow defense lawyers to argue Roeder's actions amounted to voluntary manslaughter, a charge that can be applied when a defendant acts with the belief that circumstances exist justifying deadly force.

A manslaughter conviction would bring a much lighter sentence -- possibly less than five years -- than the life sentence a premeditated murder conviction could bring.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT