Prosecutors Ask To Shield Witness IDs (Abortion Doctor's Slaying)

Associated Press ^

[RCW2001]

BUFFALO, N.Y. July 15 — Prosecutors asked a judge for permission Monday to conceal the identities of witnesses in the case against an abortion foe charged with murdering a doctor, citing a risk of violence or harassment.

Defense attorney Paul Cambria agreed but said he was concerned the specifics might hamper the defense.

State Judge Michael D'Amico asked prosecutor Joe Marusak to draft an order to which both sides could agree.

Potential witnesses in the case against James Kopp run a "substantial risk of annoyance" if they were identified before the trial because of the international publicity the case has received, Marusak said. He said strong emotions around abortion might lead to violence against witnesses.

Kopp, 47, sat quietly in court, wearing a bulletproof vest under his coat.

Authorities allege Kopp hid outiside Dr. Barnett Slepian's suburban Amherst home in 1998 and shot him through the kitchen window with a rifle. Kopp was captured in France after a 2-year international manhunt.

He is charged with murder and with violating the federal law against interfering with the right to an abortion.

[GhostofWCooper]

"He is charged with murder and with violating the federal law against interfering with the right to an abortion."

Murder is no big deal, but this interfering with abortion mill operation goes way beyond the pale... What's with this madman?

I believe he does have a right to confront his accusers.. If they don't have the guts to stand up and testify, the case should be thrown out. The law is the law..
or at least, it was...

[Fixit]

Amendment VI

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmentvi

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

[sport]

Back when we had a Constitution, one did have the right to confront one's accuser[s] in open court.

That was then, this is now.

[GhostofWCooper]

Liberalism is a cancer that destroys even the legal process.
It's very sad.

[victim soul]

Thanks for posting what the accused has the right to in defending himself. James Kopp insists he is innocent. He must be proven guilty - and not by the press but by a jury of his peers.

[Havisham]

The FBI seems to have planted a weapon after first finding nothing in the surrounding brush. The victim and abortionist Slepian, it is said, was having serious qualms about taking the lives of the unborn. These are the conclulsions of the life movement and I am pursuaded they are probably true, particularly in light of the abortion movement's constant slandering of prolifers everywhere.