CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The white man accused of fatally shooting nine black parishioners at a South Carolina church will act as his own attorney in his federal death penalty trial.
Dylann Roof’s request Monday came against his lawyers’ advice, and U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said he would reluctantly accept the 22-year-old’s “unwise” decision.
Noted death penalty attorney David Bruck then slid over and let Roof take the lead chair. The lawyers can stand by and help Roof if he asks.
Police say Roof hurled racist insults at the six women and three men he’s accused of killing and the three people he left alive in the June 2015 attack at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.
Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Roof on hate crime, obstruction of religion and other charges.
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Thus ensuring an appeal for not having effective defense counsel.
Wonder how many RW lawyers have offered pro bono services for him? “he was jus doin’ the Lord’s work…”
I guess Roof had better get started binge watching a few seasons of Law and Order.
Only a great fool will offer to be his own defense in a murder trial.
This doesn’t work.
“Thus, whatever else may or may not be open to him on appeal, a defendant who elects to represent himself cannot thereafter complain that the quality of his own defense amounted to a denial of ‘effective assistance of counsel.’”
Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 834, n. 46 (1975)