Article: Justifiable Homicide Defense Rejected

A Florida judge ruled that the man accused of murdering a doctor and his abortion clinic escort in July cannot defend the killings as justifiable homicide.

Escambia County Circuit Judge Frank Bell granted the state's motion that Paul Hill could not defend himself on the double-murder charges by arguing that the action was justifiable because killing a doctor who performed abortions protected the lives of unborn children.

Such a defense excuses otherwise criminal conduct committed for the purpose of preventing an imminent, even greater, harm.

Hill, 40, of Pensacola, is accused of the July 29 shooting of John Britton, 69, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., and ...

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