A militant American anti-abortionist, who spent 12 months in Ireland on the run from the US authorities, was convicted yesterday of the 1998 murder of a gynaecologist.
Judge Michael D'Amico of Erie County Court read his verdict on the second day of James Kopp's trial in Buffalo, New York, finding him guilty of second-degree murder that carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Kopp (48) did not react in court to the verdict. His sentencing was scheduled for May 9th.
Kopp was employed for a week at the City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital in Hume Street for a brief period at the beginning of 2001, where he worked as a temporary typist.
Using pseudonyms such as "Seamus O'Briain" he also stayed with a religious order in south Dublin who were also unaware of his identity.
In a surprise switch in legal strategy last week, Kopp waived his right to a jury trial in favour of trial by a judge for the killing of Dr Barnett Slepian, an obstetrician-gynaecologist, in Buffalo. He provided women's medical services and abortions at a suburban clinic.
The shooting on October 23rd, 1998, focused attention on abortion rights in the US and led to an international manhunt for Kopp.
Summing up, prosecutors outlined ballistic and other evidence, saying Kopp's conduct amounted to "religious terrorism".
But his lawyer said Kopp had not intended to kill and had acted "in the defence of the unborn living" to stop Dr Slepian from providing more abortions.
Kopp fled the United States after the shooting of Dr Slepian (52) with a high-powered rifle through the window of his suburban home in Amherst, New York.
Kopp, known as "Atomic Dog" by his fellow "Army of God" anti-abortion militants, spent 2½ years on the run in Mexico, Ireland and France before he was arrested in France in March 2001.
He was extradited to the US last year only after France was assured he would not face the death penalty.
Dr Slepian was among seven people killed in attacks on clinics or doctors from 1993 to 1998, underscoring the fact that a woman's constitutional right to choose an abortion remains an intensely charged issue in the United States.
Kopp faces a federal trial at a later date on charges of interfering with the right to an abortion. - (Reuters)