Abortions Resume at Clinic Where Doctor, Aide Were Slain

Abortion procedures have resumed at The Ladies Center, where a doctor and his escort were shot to death in the parking lot in late July.

A doctor whose identity has been kept secret arrived at the clinic early Thursday morning to a calm and quiet building.

It was a sharp contrast to the atmosphere that had often greeted Dr. James Britton, 69, one of the slaying victims. He had been met by crowds of angry, chanting protesters.

Clinic officials and police said they had done everything possible to keep Thursday’s activity secret.

Three Pensacola police officers, two off-duty police officers hired by the clinic and two federal marshals were outside the building in case there were problems, police Sgt. Jerry Potts said.

Marshals were assigned to some abortion clinics nationwide after Britton was murdered and have remained there since.

Paul Hill, 40, an anti-abortion militant, has been charged with murdering Britton and James Barrett, 74, his escort, and with wounding Barrett’s wife.

Meanwhile, the assistant public defender representing Hill has asked a judge to dismiss federal charges against his client.

In addition to state murder and attempted murder charges, Hill has been charged with three counts of violating the U.S. Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which prohibits violence, threats and obstructive acts against providers of reproductive health services and their patients.