The man accused of killing nine people in a racially motivated shooting in Charleston, S.C. – in which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty – will face federal trial in four months.
Advertisement
A federal judge said Tuesday jurors will be picked this fall in the trial of a white man accused of killing nine members of a historic black Charleston, South Carolina, church.
Roof faces numerous federal counts, including hate crimes, for the shootings last June 17 at Emanuel AME Church.
Roof is now facing a possible death sentence in both the federal and state trials, which have been delayed multiple times and are currently set to occur within a period of several weeks, though the state’s trial is expected to be rescheduled.
The Post and Courier said the federal court is considering calling 1,200 to 1,500 potential jurors from across SC for Roof’s trial.
Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors said they felt they had enough time to prepare their case.
Roof was originally to go on trial in state court this July.
Meek has pleaded not guilty to lying to law enforcement agents and failing to report what he knew about Roof’s intentions.
“Our plea offer has not been withdrawn and will never be withdrawn”, Bruck said during the court hearing in Charleston.
Other factors contributing to the government’s decision, the notice said, to seek the death penalty are that Roof meant to kill more than one person “in a single criminal episode”, that he acted “after substantial planning and premeditation” and that among his victims were three people in their 70s and 80s, people “particularly vulnerable due to old age”. During Tuesday’s hearing, a handcuffed Roof sat impassively while his attorneys told Gergel their client would be willing to plead guilty if the death penalty was not being sought.
Two days after the killing spree, the relatives of those killed at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston stood up one by one and offered the suspected murderer their forgiveness.
A number of remembrance events are planned in Charleston, including a Bible study and service at the church and a service at the arena where President Barack Obama gave the eulogy for the church’s slain pastor.
Advertisement
Bernice King, daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., will be the keynote speaker at an event in the city on June 18.
