Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

U.S. to seek death penalty against accused South Carolina church shooter

By Reuters 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Dylann Roof attends a hearing at the Judicial Center in Charleston

By Harriet McLeod

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Reuters) – Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a white man accused of killing nine black parishioners in a racially motivated attack at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, last June, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Advertisement

“The nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm compelled this decision,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

Dylann Roof, 22, is accused of opening fire on June 17, 2015, during Bible study at Charleston’s historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in a massacre that shook the country and intensified debate over U.S. race relations.

He faces 33 federal charges, including hate crimes, obstruction of religion and firearms offenses.

In a court filing, federal prosecutors cited a number of factors for seeking the death penalty, saying Roof singled out victims who were black and elderly, and showed no remorse. They also cited “substantial planning and premeditation.”

A friend of Roof, 21-year-old Joseph Meek, pleaded guilty last month to concealing his knowledge of Roof’s intention to carry out the attack, saying then that Roof planned the shooting for six months and wanted to start a race war.

Roof’s lawyers have said he would agree to plead guilty, rather than face trial if prosecutors ruled out capital punishment. But defense attorney Michael O’Connell, declined comment on Tuesday’s decision when reached by phone.

Roof also faces the death penalty if convicted on separate, state murder charges in a trial set to begin in January.

The state prosecutor trying the case said last September that some of the victims’ families were opposed to a death sentence due to their religious beliefs, while others felt it was appropriate.

Steve Schmutz, an attorney representing families of three victims, said his clients “support whatever decision the U.S. government is making in this case, and I’m sure they support this decision.”

Some relatives of the slain worshippers tearfully offered words of forgiveness during Roof’s initial court appearance.. Nearly a year later, views diverged on the federal death penalty decision.

“It’s a great message being sent by the government that this won’t be tolerated,” Kevin Singleton, whose mother was among those killed, told the local Post and Courier newspaper.

The relative of another victim cited the Bible in calling for Roof to spend his life in prison rather than die.

Federal prosecutors rarely seek the death penalty against defendants. Only three federal prisoners have been executed in the past half century and none since 2003, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The best-known of those was Timothy McVeigh, responsible for the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building that killed 168 people.

Roof is due back in federal court in Charleston on June 8, when prosecutors are expected to discuss a trial date.

(Reporting by Harriet McLeod in Charleston, S.C.; Additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Tampa, Fla. and David Ingram in New York; Additional reporting and writing by Curtis Skinner; Editing by Dan Grebler and Peter Cooney)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC4N1QT-VIEWIMAGE

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC4N1V4-VIEWIMAGE

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC4N1V5-VIEWIMAGE

Advertisement - Continue reading below

Former Supreme Court Justice Says These Five Words ‘Can Fix the Second Amendment’
Culture
Brian Delpozo 3 min read

Former Supreme Court Justice Says These Five Words ‘Can Fix the Second Amendment’

Convicted spy Pollard urges reversal of U.S. parole conditions
News
Reuters 2 min read

Convicted spy Pollard urges reversal of U.S. parole conditions

Delta cancels 25 flights, some due to bad weather
News
Reuters 1 min read

Delta cancels 25 flights, some due to bad weather

Spielberg brings Dahl’s friendly giant to screens with ‘The BFG’
Entertainment
Reuters 1 min read

Spielberg brings Dahl’s friendly giant to screens with ‘The BFG’

Amy Adams leads in sci-fi thriller as Oscar buzz builds in Venice
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Amy Adams leads in sci-fi thriller as Oscar buzz builds in Venice

Director David Yates talks ‘Fantastic Beasts’
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Director David Yates talks ‘Fantastic Beasts’

Billboard awards say Kesha set canceled by record label
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Billboard awards say Kesha set canceled by record label

Engine failure led to foot-long hole in Southwest airliner: agency
News
Reuters 2 min read

Engine failure led to foot-long hole in Southwest airliner: agency

Deserted Government Facility In The Woods Is Eerily Disturbing
Trending
David Clarke 2 min read

Deserted Government Facility In The Woods Is Eerily Disturbing

From Bhangarh Fort to Shimla’s Tunnel No
Entertainment
Ethan Blake 8 min read

From Bhangarh Fort to Shimla’s Tunnel No

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers