By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – A judge Monday said the suspect in the slaying of Dr. Barnett Slepian will not be ordered to fill out a gun purchase form to demonstrate his handwriting.
Erie County Court Judge Michael D'Amico says James Kopp will not have to fill out a blank purchase order, but must provide generic handwriting samples.
Prosecutors had wanted Kopp to fill out a gun order form to compare it to a form used in the purchase of the suspected murder weapon. But the judge will allow the prosecution to ask for each word or number to be written 150 times.
The court already ordered Kopp to submit hair, blood and saliva samples for the state case. He has pleaded innocent to second degree murder.
Kopp also faces federal charges for violating the law against interfering with the right to an abortion.
He's accused in the 1998 shooting death of Slepian, a physician who performed abortions.