Dylann Roof asked a federal judge if his former defense team could represent him for his murder trial.
12/05/16 – Roland Martin and Meg Kinnard, Associated Press political/legal affairs reporter, provide updates on the Slager and Roof trials which are both currently happening in South Carolina. Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. (Photo: Meg Kinnard Twitter Profile)
Dylann Roof will defend himself in court and could cross-examine survivors and family members of the Emanuel 9.
Judge Gergel warned Roof that it would be in his best interest to have legal representation, but approved the request and resumed jury selection.
The first set of more than 3,000 potential jurors appeared in court for questioning in the Charleston church shooter trial. Attorney will select 12 jurors for the trail that's set to begin in late November.
Roof suffered minor bruises on the face and back, according to a jail spokesperson.
Currently, Roof faces 33 federal offenses, including hate crime charges based on the allegation that he purposely targeted members of Emanuel based on their race and religion.
Dylann Roof's lawyer, Sarah Gannett, said the charges are "extremely grave" and "under the Constitution they are not properly charged."
Much has changed, but a lot has stayed the same since tragedy unfolded a year ago at "Mother" Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
The 13 speeches against the thousand mass shootings that have occurred in his second term speak to the enormous amount of work that must be done to change the gun control debate in America.
Roof attended Tuesday's hearing sitting "impassively" in front of the victims' families, journalists and spectators, the Times reports. He faces 33 counts, including hate crimes.
Out of the 33 federal charges against Roof, the accusation that he violated the prayer group's right to freely practice religion will weigh heavy when considering the death penalty.
