Dylann Roof: Accused Charleston Church Gunman Asks for Defense Team Back

By Associated Press

05 December 16

Roof, charged with fatal shootings of nine black parishioners in South Carolina, had sought to defend himself but asks if lawyers can return temporarily

he white man charged with the shooting deaths of nine black parishioners at a South Carolina church asked a judge on Sunday if he could have his defense team back, at least temporarily.

In a handwritten request, Dylann Roof asked the US district judge Richard Gergel to bring his defense team back on board for the guilt phase of his federal death penalty trial, which begins this week in Charleston.

“I would like to ask if my lawyers can represent me for the guilt phase of the trial only,” Roof wrote.

“Can you let me have them back for the guilt phase, and then let me represent myself for the sentencing phase of the trial? If you would allow that, then that is what I would like to do.”

Death penalty cases are split into two parts: the guilt phase and a separate portion that focuses on whether the defendant will be sentenced to death or life in prison.

Roof, 22, faces dozens of federal charges, including hate crimes and obstruction of the practice of religion, for the June 2015 slayings at the end of a Bible study at the Emanuel AME Church.

Police said he voiced racial slurs during the shooting and left three people alive so they could tell the world the killings were because he hated black people.

The request comes a week after a federal judge allowed Roof to represent himself, a request that came as court convened last week to begin the process of qualifying a jury pool to hear Roof’s case.

Gergel, who had found Roof competent to stand trial a week earlier, said Roof had the constitutional right to act as his own attorney, a decision the judge called “very unwise”.

Roof’s former defense team has remained as his legal advisers but have also sought to play a larger role in his defense, expressing concern last week Roof may not present evidence that could sway a jury to spare his life – something that could violate the US constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

The lawyers said they didn’t know why Roof wanted to represent himself but added that other capital defendants had fired their lawyers to avoid having embarrassing evidence revealed. The “22-year-old ninth-grade dropout”, they wrote, might deliberately sabotage his own defense in order to get the death penalty.

There will be a hearing on Monday for Roof and prosecutors to discuss pretrial motions. Opening statements are currently scheduled for Wednesday.

If Roof’s request is not granted and he continues to represent himself, he will be making those statements and questioning witnesses at trial.

That could include relatives of the shooting victims, some of whom said at Roof’s initial court appearance that they forgave him and would pray for him.