Peter James Knight
Encyclopedia
Peter James Knight is a pro-life
activist who shot dead a security guard in an Australia
n abortion
clinic.
He led a hermit's life in the years leading up to the incident. He lived in a small camp in the suburbs, 'off the grid' without a telephone or electricity. He did, however, frequently attend pro-life
rallies.
On 16 July 2001 he walked into the East Melbourne Fertility Clinic (a private abortion provider), carrying a rifle. He also had 16 litres of kerosene, 3 lighters, torches, 30 gags, and a handwritten note that read "We regret to advise that as a result of a fatal accident involving some members of staff, we have been forced to cancel all appointments today".
He later stated that he intended to massacre everyone in the clinic, and progressively rid Melbourne of all its abortion clinics. He shot 44 year old Steven Rogers, a security guard, in the chest, killing him. Staff and clients overpowered him soon after.
For many weeks after his arrest he refused to answer questions altogether, and refused to cooperate with their investigations. Police did not know his identity until 3 months after his arrest, even though his photographs were published in major newspapers.
On 19 November 2002 he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 23 years. He will be in his 70s before being eligible for parole. He is currently serving in Barwon Prison, Lara, Victoria, Australia.
This incident is the only killing by an anti-abortion activist in Australia's history.
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
activist who shot dead a security guard in an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
clinic.
He led a hermit's life in the years leading up to the incident. He lived in a small camp in the suburbs, 'off the grid' without a telephone or electricity. He did, however, frequently attend pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
rallies.
On 16 July 2001 he walked into the East Melbourne Fertility Clinic (a private abortion provider), carrying a rifle. He also had 16 litres of kerosene, 3 lighters, torches, 30 gags, and a handwritten note that read "We regret to advise that as a result of a fatal accident involving some members of staff, we have been forced to cancel all appointments today".
He later stated that he intended to massacre everyone in the clinic, and progressively rid Melbourne of all its abortion clinics. He shot 44 year old Steven Rogers, a security guard, in the chest, killing him. Staff and clients overpowered him soon after.
For many weeks after his arrest he refused to answer questions altogether, and refused to cooperate with their investigations. Police did not know his identity until 3 months after his arrest, even though his photographs were published in major newspapers.
On 19 November 2002 he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 23 years. He will be in his 70s before being eligible for parole. He is currently serving in Barwon Prison, Lara, Victoria, Australia.
This incident is the only killing by an anti-abortion activist in Australia's history.