Will Roeder's mailings hurt his defense?

Last Update: 7/03 6:20 pm

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WICHITA, Kansas – The Tiller murder suspect is once again writing from jail, raising questions about whether he’s damaging his defense and whether each new letter only further seals his fate.

Scott Roeder is facing first degree murder charges for the murder of Dr. George Tiller. He’s sending the pamphlets to individual on the fringes of the anti-abortion movement. The mailings come from a militant anti-abortion group.

The mailings praise Paul Hill, who was convicted and executed for the 1994 killing of Dr. John Britton. Roeder also quotes Hill’s writings about how killing an abortion provider is justified.

"I just think people of Sedgwick County and all of Kansas should be disgusted and appalled that here's Scott Roeder, sitting in the county jail on our dime and turning it into headquarters central for his domestic terrorist activities,” said pro-choice advocate Vickey Stangl.

The latest letters come just after a judge raised Roeder’s bond from $5 million to $20 million for comments made that other members of abortion doctors are being planned across the country. Roeder’s public defender, Steve Osburn, has told KSN in the past that he warned Roeder about making public statement’s from jail.

"Client control is extremely important, especially in a high-profile case,” said Wichita attorney Les Hulnick, who is not associated with the case.

The latest move by Roeder, aligning himself with a convicted murderer, is not likely to help his chances in court, according to Hulnick.

“He may be digging himself his own grave so to speak,” Hulnick said.

And what’s more, says Hulnick, is that Roeder could be setting himself up for more charges, perhaps on the federal level as a co-conspirator.

"What he doesn't understand is that he may in fact be committing other crimes by soliciting other people to follow in his footsteps and making this a cause in the manner, which he is,” Hulnick said.

The Sedgwick County sheriff says Roeder’s outgoing and incoming mail is becoming monitored.

As far as censoring what goes out, that would be referred to the Law Department because of First Amendment concerns. Ultimately it may be up to a judge to decide if the activity could cause harm.

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