‘Warrior for babies’ admits guilt
COLORADO SPRINGS: The man accused of killing three people during an attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic bellowed in court on Wednesday that he is a “warrior for the babies”.
Robert Lewis Dear, 57, declared his guilt and said there would be no trial. He was in court to be formally advised of the 179 charges against him, including murder, after a shooting rampage on Nov 27 in Colorado Springs that also wounded nine people.
Authorities said Mr Dear mentioned “no more baby parts” during his arrest. Mr Dear’s lawyer said the suspect’s mental competency must be investigated before the case proceeds.
“I’m a warrior for the babies,” Mr Dear said, his wrists and ankles shackled. Mr Dear repeatedly interrupted his lawyer during the hearing and said he wouldn’t meet him again. It wasn’t immediately clear what impact his outbursts might have on the case against him since he was not being asked to enter a plea on Wednesday. Colorado prosecutors have not yet said whether they’ll pursue the death penalty in the case. Mr Dear is being represented by the same public defender who defended Aurora theatre shooter James Holmes, who received a life sentence instead of death for the 2012 on a suburban cinema. Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
In court, Mr Dear referenced the Holmes case and rejected the idea that he be medicated and said he didn’t want to undergo a mental-health exam. “Do you know who this lawyer is?” Mr Dear said. “He’s the lawyer for the Batman shooter who drugged him all up. That’s what they want to do to me.” Mr Dear’s ex-wife says he is a deeply religious but conflicted man who targeted the clinic because of its abortion-related activities. Planned Parent officials have called the attack a “horrific tragedy”.
Said Vicki Cowart, CEO and President of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: “We know that words matter. It is time to put an end to the dangerous rhetoric that has permeated our political conversations. Enough is enough — this violence, whether inflicted with words or with weapons, cannot become our normal.”
Mr Dear could also face federal charges. The US Attorney’s Office in Denver said its focus is to aid the investigation. Federal prosecutors could also seek the death penalty. Mr Dear lived in a small trailer in a remote area of Colorado about a one hour drive west of the clinic. His trailer in Hartsel lacked running water or standard electricity, although it was equipped with solar panels and a television aerial.