July 6
USA:
Dylann Roof's lawyers seek dismissal of federal charges
Dylann Roof's lawyers are seeking to dismiss the federal indictment against
Roof, saying his charges exceed the authority of the federal government and are
unconstitutional.
The request was filed on Tuesday by Roof's defense attorneys.
Defense attorney Sarah Gannett argues that all 33 indictments against Roof
should be thrown out because they assert federal jurisdiction in a case that
should be left to South Carolina authorities.
Roof's lawyers say if the government withdraws Roof's death penalty, he will
plead guilty as charged to all counts in the indictment.
On June 18, 2015, Roof was arrested by authorities in North Carolina, for an
arrest warrant issued by the State of South Carolina.
He was transferred to South Carolina custody later that day and charged with
various state offenses stemming from the shooting deaths of 9 people, and
injury of 3 more at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on June 17, 2015.
Roof was later charged in federal court with related offenses, including
obstruction of religious exercise resulting in death, hate crime acts resulting
in death, and use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence resulting
in death.
Unlike in many federal cases, in which the state prosecution is dismissed in
favor of federal prosecution, or in which the federal case is charged only
after the state case, the federal and state cases here were charged
concurrently.
The federal case is scheduled for November 7, 2016.
The state case is scheduled for trial on January 17, 2017.
In both the state and federal cases, Roof faces a potential death sentence or
life in prison without release.
(source: WSPA news)
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