The man convicted of murdering abortion provider Dr. George Tiller in 2009 will serve a 25-year-to-life sentence for the crime.
Roeder, 58, had been sentenced to a “Hard 50” in 2010.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that an enhanced sentence needed to be presented and ruled on by a jury. Roeder appealed and, on Wednesday, was given the lighter sentence.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett announced Wednesday that by agreement with the family of Dr. Tiller and the defense team, the court will be asked to impose the 25-year-to-life sentence. Bennett cited Roeder’s poor health and the fact that he would be in his mid-70s by the time he would face a parole board, along with an unwillingness to put the community through a painful weeks-long trial.
Tiller was one of just a few doctors who performed late-term abortions. Roeder testified that babies were in imminent danger, so he was justified in killing Tiller.
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Aileen LeBlanc is news director at KMUW. Follow her on Twitter @Aileen_LeBlanc.
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