#DylannRoof Death Penalty Trial Continues

Posted on December 9, 2016 by SouthernGirl2

dylann-roof-in-court-44A South Carolina jury viewed graphic photos on Thursday of bullet-riddled bodies and cartridge cases left in the wake of the June 2015 attack on an historic black church, after a federal judge denied a mistrial for accused gunman Dylann Roof.

The hushed courtroom during the presentation of the crime scene evidence stood in contrast to the emotional testimony a day earlier by a survivor of the massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.

Lawyers for Roof, a 22-year-old avowed white supremacist, argued eyewitness Felicia Sanders had offered prejudicial and improper opinion on Wednesday, the first day of the trial, about what penalty Roof should face.

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Roof if he is convicted of federal hate crimes resulting in death, obstruction of religion and firearms violations stemming from the church massacre.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Richardson told jurors during opening statements that Roof targeted the oldest African-American congregation in the southern United States, aiming to have his message of racial hate resonate across the country.

Roof faces murder charges in state court, where prosecutors also are seeking the death penalty.

During her testimony, Sanders called the defendant “evil, evil as can be” for appearing to sit innocently through a Bible study meeting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston before opening fire.

Sanders then told defense lawyer David Bruck during cross-examination that she was glad when Roof had said at the scene that he would kill himself after gunning down nine parishioners.

“There is no place left on earth for him except the pit of hell,” said Sanders, who survived with her 11-year-old granddaughter but lost her son, Tywanza Sanders, 26, and aunt, Susie Jackson, 87.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said he viewed Sanders’ comments as a religious statement and not an opinion about sentencing. He refused to strike her testimony.

The defense motion for a mistrial filed on Thursday said Roof’s grief-stricken mother collapsed in court after opening statements concluded on Wednesday and was admitted to a hospital with a heart attack.

Jurors on Thursday also watched surveillance video that showed Roof entering a side door at the church at 8:16 p.m. on June 17, wearing a sweatshirt on a muggy day and a small pack around his waist that investigators said held his gun and ammunition.

He slipped back out of the building 51 minutes later with only the gun, Charleston Police Sergeant Dan English testified.

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
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149 Responses to #DylannRoof Death Penalty Trial Continues

  1. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    I’ll bet the 9th grade drop out couldn’t name one historical achievement made by black people. This fuckery came from an old ugly racist bigot.

    https://twitter.com/ChadKMills/status/807338942232219648

    Reply
  2. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    The “black people were happy slaves” & had nothing bad to say about slavery is the most ignorant thing I’ve ever heard

    https://twitter.com/ChadKMills/status/807338634047262724

    Reply
  4. yahtzeebutterfly says:
    December 9, 2016 at 5:35 pm

    How did Dylann Roof’s father know that Dylann wanted a gun?

    https://twitter.com/CarterCoyleWCSC/status/807309070684319744

    Reply
  5. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 4:57 pm

    What kind of fuckery is this? These aren’t views of a 22yr old but a 70ish old white male racist bigot.

    https://twitter.com/ChadKMills/status/807340623099547650

    Reply
  11. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    Who radicalized #DylannRoof?
    Who radicalized #DylannRoof?
    Who radicalized #DylannRoof?
    Who radicalized #DylannRoof?
    Who radicalized #DylannRoof?

    What he wrote in that journal are views of an old bigoted white racist!

    Reply
  43. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    DylannRoof confession: “The KKK never did anything anyways” . “Nobody else is brave enough to do anything about it”

    IMO…Old racist white man words

    This case smells of an old racist bigot behind this….you’re raping our women, taking over our country, black on white crime etc

    Reply
  111. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 9:34 am

    BULLSHIT! Pure fuckery. Some people don’t even get water.

    https://twitter.com/CarterCoyleWCSC/status/807245875831508994

    Reply
  114. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 9:27 am

    Wow! Police asked Dylann Roof is he was hungry and he said yes so they bought him a burger.

    https://twitter.com/CarterCoyleWCSC/status/807243796438220801

    https://twitter.com/CarterCoyleWCSC/status/807243929972342784

    Reply
  136. SouthernGirl2 says:
    December 9, 2016 at 8:49 am

    Who radicalized #DylannRoof?
    Who taught him to hate?
    Who nurtured his hate?

    The media would be asking these questions if he was a Muslim.

    Reply

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