Hearing for Tiller's killer to take up resentencing issues

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The man convicted of killing abortion provider George Tiller is expected to return to a Kansas courtroom.

Scott Roeder's life sentence with no chance of parole for 50 years was among many vacated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that juries, not judges, must decide whether aggravating circumstances existed to warrant increasing the punishment above mandatory minimum sentences.

Thursday's status hearing may set a date for his resentencing as attorneys handle any lingering legal issues.

Roeder was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Tiller, who was shot in a church on May 31, 2009. He testified he shot Tiller because other attempts to stop him from performing abortions had failed. Roeder also was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault.

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The Gayly - 7/7/2016 @ 11:55 a.m. CDT