Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 8, 1993 TAG: 9309080095
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WICHITA, KAN. LENGTH: Short
During a preliminary hearing, two workers at Dr. George Tiller's clinic identified Rachelle "Shelley" Shannon, 37, of Grants Pass, Ore., as the woman who shot Tiller on Aug. 19 and pointed a gun at them.
Judge Michael Corrigan ordered Shannon held in lieu of $1 million bail and scheduled trial for Nov. 15 on one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
Tiller, a frequent target of protests because he is one of about a half-dozen U.S. physicians who perform late-term abortions, said under cross-examination that he thought the woman who attacked him was Shannon but that he couldn't positively identify her.
He testified he was "absolutely, unequivocally terrified" as he chased a woman who had fired five shots and wounded him in both arms.
Tiller described being shot as he pulled out of the driveway of his Women's Health Care Services clinic.
He said he raised his left arm to wave off a woman who was approaching his vehicle because he thought she was going to try to hand him anti-abortion literature.
"Then there was glass breaking and I felt pain in my left arm," he testified. As he grabbed the wounded arm, another bullet entered his right arm. Three more shots missed.
Tiller testified he drove after his attacker as she ran from the clinic, pulling into a driveway ahead of her to cut her off.
Tiller said he drove back to the clinic after he started to feel faint.
by CNB