Woman Charged Who Threatened Pro-Life Advocates With Knife at Abortion Center

From http://www.lifenews.com/state4617.html

Woman Charged Who Threatened Pro-Life Advocates With Knife at Abortion Center

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 3, 2009

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Duluth, MN (LifeNews.com) -- A Minnesota woman, who faces assault charges after she allegedly pulled a knife on two pro-life advocates who encouraged her not to have an abortion, has been charged. The November assault followed a September shooting in Michigan that saw pro-life advocate Jim Pouillon shot and killed as he protested abortion.

Leah Winandy and other pro-life advocates were gathered outside the abortion business in Duluth when an unnamed 25-year-old woman from Superior, Wisconsin approached the Building For Women abortion center.

Winandy told the woman she cared about her unborn child but the woman responded by reportedly brandishing a knife and held it to Winandy's throat.

On Friday, officials charged Mechelle Tallulah Hall with second-degree assault and set her bail at $9,000.

According to the Duluth News Tribune, Hall said at her arraignment last Wednesday that she knew she made a mistake.

"I know what I did was wrong," she said.

The newspaper indicated the judge said that was not the appropriate time to talk about the facts of the case or enter a plea as to her guilt or innocence.

Winandy has discussed the incident at length and said, "We asked the women 'please don't take the life of your unborn baby we care about what happens to them." http://www.lifenews.com/state4602.html

"She said 'don't do this,don't talk to me, don't come near me' and I just said 'fear god,' and she had the knife to my throat and I was a little nervous," Winandy added. "She was probably trying to threaten me and intimidate me...but for what reason I don't know."

After the woman threatened Winandy, her mother, another sidewalk counselor, came to her aid and the woman threatened her with the knife as well, holding it close to her neck.

Hall then entered the abortion facility -- where police later found her and located the knife in her purse. Police officials arrested her and took her to the St. Louis County jail.
Winandy related in the email LifeNews.com received that not only is she thankful for the incident but she said the story is not over.

"As the police were leaving, a young women ran into the building very quickly," she said. "After a few minutes she came out onto the sidewalk, and seemed to be waiting for someone. My Mom talked to her, and she turned out to be the friend of the women who had just been arrested."

"Not knowing what had just happened, she had come to support her friend, but was told that her friend had left the building quickly. They didn't even tell her why or in what state she had left," Winandy continued.

"So we were able to minister to this women, her name is, Melissa and her friend, who had been arrested is Michelle," Winandy said.

Winandy indicated she and her mother talked with Melissa about their Christian faith and she indicated it may be possible for the Winandys to visit Michelle in jail.

"Please pray for these two women. I do forgive Michelle," she concluded.