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Man Charged With Killing Abortion Doc Has Long Anti-Gov History


Both Dr. George Tiller and the man accused of killing him have long controversial pasts.

WICHITA, Kan. (CBS/AP) Scott Roeder, the man charged with killing late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller has a long history of anti-government behavior.

In 1996, he was convicted of possessing bomb making materials, but released when a court ruled his car was illegally searched.

His ex-wife told CBS News he was obsessed with fighting abortion and was involved with anti-government groups for more than a decade.

A 2007 posting on an anti-abortion website under the name Scott Roeder compared Tiller to the Nazi concentration camp doctor Joseph Mengele and called Tiller's clinic a "death camp."

Roeder made a court appearance today in Wichita by a video link from the county jail. He was formally charged with the first degree murder of Tiller and aggravated assault for allegedly threatening two people who tried to stop him.

He responded, "OK," when the judge read the charges. The judge ordered Roeder to be held without bond, and said he's not allowed to communicate with Tiller's family.

Roeder asked the judge when he would see his court-appointed lawyer. The judge said that would happen within two days. A preliminary hearing is set for June 16.

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