James Kopp is Found Guilty(Murderer of Abortion Doctor)

FoxNewsChannel | 3/18/03 | Myself

[Diddle E. Squat]

Just reported that James Kopp was found guilty by the judge.

Thank the Lord.

Kopp is no friend of the pro-life movement.

[Diddle E. Squat]

No more details yet, just a blurb by the Fox Newsreader.

[Catspaw]

What a surprise (not). I hope he gets life without parole, the maximum penalty allowed.

[Sacajaweau]

He would have had a better chance with a jury but then, I like short stories with a good ending.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Earlier info on his choosing not to have a jury: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/862423/posts

[FreeTally]

That was a no-brainer. Now, I just hope he gets the death penalty.

[FreeTally]

Oh crap, there's no death penalty in the State, I presume. Darn!

[Diddle E. Squat]

More info from earlier(I'm still searching for an article from today):

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/838969/posts

[Poohbah]

Looks like the Atomic Dog is going to decay for a good long time...

Watch him complain how he was "railroaded" by a "kangaroo court" and how he say that he didn't have a jury trial.

[Freakazoid]

Fry him.

[Diddle E. Squat]

http://www.nynewsday.com/nyc-kopp0318,0,1557135.story?coll=nyc-topheadlines-left


Kopp Guilty of Murder

The Associated Press
Staff Writer

March 18, 2003, 2:26 PM EST


BUFFALO, N.Y. -- An anti-abortion extremist who became one of the FBI's most-wanted fugitives following the sniper killing of an abortion provider was convicted today of second-degree murder.

James Kopp, 48, was found guilty of intentionally killing Dr. Barnett Slepian in the doctor's suburban Amherst home Oct. 23, 1998. Slepian was struck by a single bullet fired from a high-powered rifle through a rear window of his home.

Erie County Judge Michael D'Amico heard the second-degree murder case without a jury during an unusual single court session Monday.

Instead of hearing testimony, the judge was presented with a 35-page list of facts agreed to by both sides -- including an admission by Kopp that he fired the shot -- and then heard attorneys' arguments.

Kopp sought the stipulated facts trial after waiving his right to a jury trial last week.

The judge set sentencing for May 9. Kopp faces a minimum of 15 years to life and a maximum of 25 years to life.

In arguing for acquittal, defense attorney Bruce Barket said Kopp, 48, believed in the use of force to prevent abortions, but meant only to wound Slepian to prevent him from performing abortions.

Prosecutor Joseph Marusak said every step that Kopp took in planning for the attack, including his choice of weapon and the use of aliases in buying the rifle, pointed to an intention to kill.

Kopp was lying in wait for Slepian, 52, as the doctor returned home with his wife and four sons from a memorial service for his father. He was struck through a kitchen window as he heated soup.

The verdict has no effect on Kopp's upcoming federal trial on a charge of interfering with the right to an abortion related to the Slepian shooting. A status hearing in that case is scheduled for Thursday.

Kopp is a suspect in the nonfatal shootings of four other abortion providers in Canada and Rochester between 1994 and 1997. He is charged in one of the Canadian shootings.

Kopp fled to Mexico and then Ireland shortly after the 1998 shooting, and was one of the FBI's most-wanted fugitives until his capture in France in 2001.

After initially denying involvement, Kopp made a surprise confession to reporters in November. Marusak said the confession came only after Kopp was submitted to a police lineup and DNA sampling over the summer.

"He knows his goose is cooked. Now he knows about the eyewitnesses. ... He sees the avalanche coming and he can't get away with saying 'I wasn't there' anymore," he said.

[wideawake]

There is a death penalty.

The state decided to try him for second degree murder rather than first degree murder.

[Catspaw]

He was extradited from France. In order to get him back from France, the US and the state of New York had to agree that they would not ask for or impose the death penalty.

[B-Chan]

The man is a murderer -- but at least he didn't try to hide. He did the honorable thing: he submitted his actions to the judgement of the State and left it to them to decide his innocence or guilt. The fact that he openly admitted to the act and chose a judgement over a jury circus speaks well of his character.

But the law has spoken. Kopp is a murderer, and now goes to his just desserts -- which should be death. I hope he has the decency to go to that punishment with dignity. May God have mercy on his soul.

May God also bless the family of the murdered doctor, and may the souls of the babies the doctor murdered intercede for all concerned.

[Catspaw]

Watch him complain how he was "railroaded" by a "kangaroo court" and how he say that he didn't have a jury trial.

Which is why the judge, on the record, went over his waiver of a jury trial with him very carefully. But it doesn't mean he won't raise it anyway on appeal. They'll probably put in everything, including the kitchen sink.

[Protagoras]

The man is a murderer -- but at least he didn't try to hide.

Huh? He was a fugitive on the most wanted list, you don't get there by "not hiding".

[Diddle E. Squat]

-- but at least he didn't try to hide.

See post #8:

"An anti-abortion activist admitted Friday that she drove James C. Kopp to Mexico in late 1998 when he was wanted for questioning in the murder of Dr. Barnett A. Slepian."

[B-Chan]

Lest I be misunderstood: The fact that Kopp was extradited shows that -- at least in the beginning -- Kopp was attempting to evade justice. When I say that his actions at trial speak well of his character, I am talking only about his admission of guilt and his request for summary judgement, not upon his previous actions.

[Protagoras]

He did the honorable thing: he submitted his actions to the judgement of the State and left it to them to decide his innocence or guilt. The fact that he openly admitted to the act and chose a judgement over a jury circus speaks well of his character.

Wow, he sure is a guy of good character! Sheese

[Protagoras]

The fact that Kopp was extradited shows that -- at least in the beginning -- Kopp was attempting to evade justice.

Yes, he gave up as soon as they caught him. Yikes!

[Poohbah]

The man is a murderer -- but at least he didn't try to hide.

Au contraire! He hid out in France for quite a while.

He did the honorable thing: he submitted his actions to the judgement of the State and left it to them to decide his innocence or guilt.

Only AFTER the State captured him.

The fact that he openly admitted to the act and chose a judgement over a jury circus speaks well of his character.

The fact that he claimed to not have murderous intent while capping off a 7.62x39 round at another human being speaks ill of his character. He holds an advanced degree, so I'm not according him the benefit of assuming he's merely an idiot.

Deadly force is that force which, when applied to the human body, is likely to cause death or serious bodilt injury. I learned early in life not to point a weapon at something I wasn't willing to kill.

But the law has spoken. Kopp is a murderer, and now goes to his just desserts -- which should be death. I hope he has the decency to go to that punishment with dignity. May God have mercy on his soul.

He fled to France, which won't extradite anyone facing capital punishment. He committed the murder in a state that doesn't have the death penalty.

[farmfriend]

I miss read the title and thought another Dr. had been killed. Glad they put him away. Killing the Drs. is not the answer.

[farmfriend]

ping

[B-Chan]

What can I say? I said he was a murderer. I said he was a fugitive. I said that he deserved to be convicted. I said that by all rights he ought to get the death penalty. (Unfortunately, he was not tried on a capital charge.) I also said that the fact that he did not want a jury trial and that he admitted to the shooting spoke well of his character. I stand by those remarks. But in case I haven't made myself clear enough: James Kopp is a fugitive and a murderer and deserves to die for his crimes.

[MoGalahad]

Agreed, DES. Murdering people is not the way to get the pro-life message across.

[RJCogburn]

He did the honorable thing: he submitted his actions to the judgement of the State and left it to them to decide his innocence or guilt. The fact that he openly admitted to the act and chose a judgement over a jury circus speaks well of his character

You are kidding, I presume. Honorable? Speaks well of his character?

He did flee the country, apparently leaving his character behind here in the USA.

[B-Chan]

See post #25.

[RJCogburn]

I am talking only about his admission of guilt and his request for summary judgement,

Nope. Don't buy it.

He may be trying to protect those who aided him before and after he committed murder. Hopefully, those folks will be the next to go down...every one of them.

[RJCogburn]

"I'm still searching for an article from today"

Here
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/867587/posts

and here
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/867585/posts

[amused]

Not surprised but glad to hear the judicial system actually works on occasion.

[FreeTally]

also said that the fact that he did not want a jury trial and that he admitted to the shooting spoke well of his character.

Uh, he said he was "just tyring to wound" the Doctor. If he had character, he would have plead guilty and accepted the punishment given without trying to mitigate the circumstance.

[RJCogburn]

Here is the AP/NYTimes version:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/868025/posts

[Behind Liberal Lines]

He was extradited from France. In order to get him back from France, the US and the state of New York had to agree that they would not ask for or impose the death penalty.

Just one more reason to "accidentally" bomb the French embassy again. ;-)

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The man is a murderer -- but at least he didn't try to hide. He ran and hid in France. In order to get him back from France, the US and the state of New York had to agree that they would not ask for or impose the death penalty.

[Catspaw]

Just one more reason to "accidentally" bomb the French embassy again. ;-)

Oh, don't tempt me :-))

But also note the other two countries he hid in were Mexico and Ireland, both countries with the same extradition policies as France.

He planned his escape very well indeed.

[WaveThatFlag]

But also note the other two countries he hid in were Mexico and Ireland,

Killing people is not consistent with the pro-life point of view. However, it should be noted that this crime would not have been comitted in Ireland, where abortion is illegal, and where masses of women are in fact not dieing as a result of mysterious "back-alley abortions."

[Redleg Duke]

"Do the crime...serve the time!"

Murder is murder, regardless.

[B-Chan]

When I say that his actions at trial speak well of his character, I am talking only about his admission of guilt and his request for summary judgement, not about his previous actions. Kopp is obviously a fugitive and a murderer and deserves to jerk at the end of a hempen rope.

[dmz]

ahh, yes. the honorable murderer with plenty of good character. what an effen load of hooey that is.

He ran and hid in France, friend. It took, what, 2 years to find him.

He is a coward, a murderer, and entirely without moral convictions.