Lawyers for Dylann Roof, 22, filed notice of the Roof’s intent Thursday to the U.S. District Court.
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Dylann Roof, the suspect charged with fatally shooting nine people at a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., last June, is seeking to waive his right to a jury trial, according to various reports.
State prosecutors had signaled their plans to seek the death penalty previous year, making the case a rare instance of a defendant facing the death penalty in federal and state courts at the same time.
Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors said they felt they had enough time to prepare their case.
Attorneys and prosecutors estimate that that the first phase of the trial will each take two to three weeks to complete, and two more weeks for the penalty phase.
Roof’s lawyers said the suspect is willing to plead guilty and avoid a trial – scheduled to begin November 7 – if the court will issue a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Roof faces numerous federal counts, including hate crimes, in the June 17 shootings.
But in the same motion, they said federal prosecutors had already rejected the idea and are determined to bring him to trial.
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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.
