Tiller Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

(CBS/AP)  Updated 5:15 p.m.

The man accused of killing Kansas late-term abortion provider George Tiller has pleaded not guilty.

Authorities say anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder, 51, also threatened two ushers who tried to stop him during the May 31 shooting in the doctor's church in Wichita. Roeder is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the slaying.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday after witnesses gave chilling testimony at a preliminary hearing. A judge ordered Roeder held on $20 million bond and set a trial date for Sept. 21.

Tiller was the target of protests at his Wichita clinic. He practiced as one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions and was shot in both arms by an anti-abortion activist in 1993.

Gary Hoepner, an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church, was the first witness called Tuesday in the preliminary hearing. Hoepner said he and Tiller were making small talk when he saw a man come in a door, put a gun to Tiller's head and shoot him.

An emotional Hoepner said, "I wasn't sure if it was a cap gun or what. And then George fell to the ground and I just said in my mind 'oh my God."

He said he followed the shooter, who he identified as Roeder, out of the church but stopped after Roeder warned him.

"'I've got a gun and I'll shoot you,"' Hoepner recalled Roeder saying. "I believed him and I stopped."

Hoepner tried not to think about his testimony before Tuesday's hearing.

"I've tried to put it out of my mind as much as possible because I know I'm going to have to relive it," Hoepner told CBS News Kansas affiliate KWCH.

Prosecutors have to convince Sedgwick County District Judge Warren Wilbert they have enough evidence to merit a trial.

Tiller, 67, had been the target of regular protests for most of the 36 years he performed abortions at his Wichita clinic, where he practiced as one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions. He was shot in both arms by an anti-abortion activist in 1993, and the doctor had been repeatedly threatened over the years.

It is unknown how many people the prosecution might call for Tuesday's hearing, but the witness list has 220 names, mostly law enforcement officials.

Also on the list are members of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue; Roeder's ex-wife and son; Tiller's wife, Jeanne, who was singing in the choir when her husband was shot; and Rachelle "Shelley" Shannon, who shot Tiller in 1993.

In rambling jailhouse interviews, Roeder has talked about the notion of justifiable homicide against abortion providers, but he has refused to discuss any facts of his case.

Roeder has told The Associated Press Tiller's shooting was justified, but never has claimed a role in the slaying.

If Roeder is convicted of first-degree murder, he faces life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

[2ears1mouth]

It's amazing that some people believe that a feutus that's moving around in the mother's womb isn't a living baby. Yes unborn is unborn but it's a baby not yet born. Just like all of us were babies in our mother's womb 1 day, 1 week, 1 month before we were born. Face it it's a baby and it's alive.

[curiously1]

Saturn5 - I am not convinced that an unborn child is incapable of feeling pain. Are you?

[BeckieBest]

This guy is just one of many that prove that modern conservatism is a very serious mental illness.

Typical right wing looney.

[curiously1]

Well..unlike the one in Georgia a few years ago, this guy didn't put bombs in the clinic. I don't know the whole story, was the doctor one of them late term abortion doctors?

[ictrepKS]

OMG, I'm rolling on the floor - DaVicar5 -- I like you!! ROTFLMAO!!

[elpaulito]

where are all the god freaks spewing their usual BS around? Maybe they are at Red Lobster firing down 10lbs of shrimp. Heretics!

[DaVicar5]

I didn't know that God Freaks were especially fond of shrimp?

[ictrepKS]

The whole problem is the Kansas courts. Even if he is sentenced to life in prison, or even the death penalty, Kansas doesn't recognize the death penalty. He'll sit up in El Dorado prison (the Kansas spa) and have 3 meals a day, TV, tennis, a gym and live better than we do. BTK (Dennis Rader) is living better than he did when he wasn't incarcerated. Kansas prisons are a joke!!!

[ictrepKS]

The guy is totally nuts. Even Randall Terry, the anti-abortion "king" won't have anything to do with him. This isn't really about whether or not he took an abortion doctor off the streets -- this is about the fact that he stalked Dr. Tiller, went to his place of worship, and shot him in the back of the head, execution style, in front of Tiller's granddaughter and other family members. This was premeditated murder, plain and simple!!!

[antoniof123]

The reason Randall will not have anything to do with him is he knows that he and people like O'Reily caused this and they are too blame so they try to distance themselves from it.

[earlysaid]

filthy COWARD!Gunned down an unarmed man with no warning and will now beg out of his justice!!Absolutely DISGUSTING

[RomansOne]

At first I thought you were talking about the disgustingly cowardly act of hacking apart an unarmed, unborn child inside the supposed safety of the mother's womb. Regardless, gunning down an unarmed man is an act of a coward -- and is reprehensible murder.

[saturn05]

Romansone-Interesting choice for a screen name. Let's see...Romans....The Coliseum...Lions and breathing humans eaten by said lions. Anyway, not your business if a WOMAN decides that a pregnancy is not healthy for her or the cells in her body. Mind your own business.

[curiously1]

I am torn here. One on hand, he killed a human being. On the other hand, he most likely saved many unborn lives. I don't know what to think of this.

[DaVicar5]

Here's a tip: stick to the "he killed a human being". His act didn't "save" anyone.

[johndevinejr]

DaVicar is correct.