Man convicted of killing abortion doctor in Kansas

Defense lawyer Mark Rudy described his case as helpless and hopeless.

“I’ve never seen anyone lay himself out as much as Mr. Roeder did,’’ Rudy said after the verdict, referring to his client’s confessions.

Roeder faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years when he is sentenced March 9. Prosecutor Nola Foulston said she would pursue a “Hard 50’’ sentence, which would require Roeder to serve at least 50 years before he can be considered for parole.

(...) Roeder had confessed publicly before the trial and admitted again on the witness stand that he shot Tiller in the foyer of the Wichita church where the doctor was serving as an usher. He testified he felt the lives of unborn children were in “immediate danger’’ because of Tiller.