WICHITA, Kan., July 28 (UPI) -- Scott Roeder pleaded not guilty in Wichita, Kan., Tuesday to shooting Dr. George Tiller, who operated a women's clinic and sometimes did late-term abortions.
Tiller was gunned down May 31 as services began at Reformation Lutheran Church. Besides first-degree murder, CNN said, Roeder also faces two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly threatening church members Gary Hoepner and Keith Martin.
Sedgwick County (Kan.) Judge Warren Wilbert set Roeder's trial for Sept. 21, CNN said.
During an earlier preliminary hearing, Hoepner said Tiller was talking about doughnuts just before he was shot to death. Hoepner, a member of Tiller's church, testified in Sedgwick County court a man walked up to Tiller and fired a gun at his head, The New York Times reported.
"And then George fell," said Hoepner, who, like Tiller, had been an usher at the church that Sunday. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing."
Testimony at the preliminary hearing Tuesday to determine whether there is enough evidence to try Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, Mo., suggested Roeder, an outspoken opponent of abortion, had been to the church before, including the Sunday preceding the shooting, the Times said.
Tiller's abortion clinic was bombed in 1986 and an abortion opponent shot him in both arms in 1993, the Times said.
Leaders of large anti-abortion groups have denounced the killing of Tiller.
Roeder could face life in prison if convicted.
