BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The convicted sniper killer of an abortion doctor said at his federal trial in Buffalo, N.Y., he only meant to injure his victim and not kill him.
James Kopp, 52, was convicted in New York state court of second-degree murder in March 2003 and is serving a 25-year-to-life state sentence for the 1998 killing of Dr. Barnett Slepian as he stood in his kitchen in a Buffalo suburb.
Wednesday, his federal trial began on charges of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and using a firearm to commit an act of violence, the Buffalo News reported.
Kopp is defending himself, and began his defense by refusing to call the doctor's widow, Lynne Slepian, as a witness.
"I just want to say I'm sorry," Kopp said quietly. "I respect you and your family. I have no questions."
Kopp, who has no known links to antiabortion rights groups, told the jury his act was clearly meant to only injure the doctor, not kill him.
"Shoot them in the head, blow up a car, riddle their body with bullets like they do in the movies. That's how you kill someone" with premeditation, Kopp said.
