Tiller shooting - justifiable homicide?

[Lemon law]

No, I very much wonder if the defense can or should be allowed. Not when Dr. Tiller was doing something legal under the existing laws of the land.

We can debate on the ethics of abortion, just as we debated on the ethics of slavery, but we cannot allow people to go around murdering other people in cold blood when the assassin knew full well what the laws of the land were.

Only the verdict of cold blooded murder applies here.

 

[ichy]

We can debate on the ethics of abortion, just as we debated on the ethics of slavery, but we cannot allow people to go around murdering other people in cold blood when the assassin knew full well what the laws of the land were.

Yup. Using violence to circumvent the political process like that is the textbook definition of terrorism.

 

[Jaskalas]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't the defense literally claim ANYTHING no matter how wrong or crazy it may be? I would expect a conviction either way, but are you suggesting control over what they can or cannot say?

 

[WHAMPOM]

GUILTY VERDICT! 'nuff said, we can now argue about something else.

 

[thraashman]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't the defense literally claim ANYTHING no matter how wrong or crazy it may be? I would expect a conviction either way, but are you suggesting control over what they can or cannot say?

I judge can choose to allow or disallow a specific line of argument for the defense or the prosecution. Don't you watch Law & Order?

 

[werepossum]

No, I very much wonder if the defense can or should be allowed. Not when Dr. Tiller was doing something legal under the existing laws of the land.

We can debate on the ethics of abortion, just as we debated on the ethics of slavery, but we cannot allow people to go around murdering other people in cold blood when the assassin knew full well what the laws of the land were.

Only the verdict of cold blooded murder applies here.

I hadn't thought of that aspect. Perhaps the judge does have the right to disallow such a defense if the accused was clearly engaged in a lawful act at the time.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

37 minutes.

That's pretty fast, and they made the right decision.

 

[Hacp]

So he admitted he was guilty but it still went to a jury? WTF? Once he admitted the crime, we should have had a short decision by the judge off to prision he goes.

 

[MJinZ]

Murdering a murderer is still murder. I hope to God Tiller gets nothing less than first degree murder.

Exactly. Even if someone were to kill the next Hitler in cold blood, it doesn't make him any less of a murderer. Extenuating circumstances (because it was the next Hitler) may allow society to pardon the crime, but it does not mean the crime suddenly becomes manslaughter!