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 The disturbance, as prosecutors formally presented murder and
other charges against Robert Lewis Dear, 57, bolstered assertions by
Planned Parenthood executives that the attack on the Colorado
Springs clinic was motivated by anti-abortion sentiments.
Dear has been held without bond since surrendering to police at the
end of a five-hour siege on Nov. 27 that authorities said began when
he opened fire with a rifle in front of the clinic, then stormed
inside.
It was the first deadly assault on a U.S. abortion provider since
2009. Three people, including a police officer, were killed and nine
were wounded.
Dear's outburst took place at the start of his hearing in El Paso
County court on Wednesday. He was not scheduled to formally enter a
plea at the proceedings.
 "I’m guilty, there’s no trial. I'm a warrior for the babies," Dear
blurted out in a loud voice while seated beside his lawyers before
the judge.
Addressing the judge, defense attorney Dan King raised the issue of
Dear's mental competency to stand trial, saying, "I think the
problem is obvious."
Among the 179 criminal counts brought in the case, prosecutors
charged Dear on Wednesday with first-degree murder in the deaths of
three people, as well as multiple counts of attempted murder and
assault.
Police affidavits filed in the case have been placed under court
seal, and authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting.
However, several media outlets, citing law enforcement sources, have
reported Dear uttered the phrase "no more baby parts" in statements
to investigators following his arrest. At one point, during a
discussion in court about the sealing of documents in the case, Dear
spoke out again.
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"Seal the truth, huh? Kill the babies, that’s what Planned
Parenthood does," Dear said.
The heavily bearded Dear, a native of South Carolina who once earned
a living as a self-employed art salesman, appeared at Wednesday's
hearing in shackles and turquoise-colored jail garb.
The judge imposed a gag order on attorneys and law enforcement in
the case and set a hearing for Dec. 23, indicating Dear's competency
may be discussed then.
The case follows renewed pressure from conservatives in Congress
this year seeking to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
The lawmakers have cited a video circulated by anti-abortion
activists who contend it shows Planned Parenthood officials
discussing the sale of aborted fetal tissue. Planned Parenthood has
denied the allegations and says the videos were produced to distort
the issue of fetal-tissue donations made by the group for scientific
research.
(Writing by Alex Dubuzinskis; Editing by Steve Gorman, Jeffrey
Benkoe, Leslie Adler and Ken Wills)
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