The Latest: Charleston church killer gets life in state case
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The Latest on the state guilty plea hearing of convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof (all times local):
2:25 p.m.
Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof has been given nine life sentences for the 2015 massacre at Emanuel AME Church in exchange for his guilty plea in state court.
The plea entered Monday by the self-avowed white supremacist marks the end of his court cases and signals his departure for the federal prison system, where he'll await execution.
The deal with state prosecutors spared his victims and their families the burden of a second trial.
The 23-year-old Roof was sentenced to death earlier this year on 33 federal crimes. He was unapologetic during that trial as he listened to survivors and relatives describe the hail of bullets that began when parishioners closed their eyes to pray during a June 2015 Bible study at the historically black Emanuel AME Church.
1:35 p.m.
Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof has pleaded guilty to state murder charges, leaving him to await federal execution and sparing his victims and their families the burden of a second trial.
The 23-year-old Roof entered his plea Monday to all state charges against him, including nine counts of murder. It's part of a deal with prosecutors in exchange for a life prison sentence.
Roof was sentenced to death earlier this year on 33 federal crimes. The self-avowed white supremacist was unapologetic during that trial as he listened to survivors and relatives describe the hail of bullets that began when parishioners closed their eyes to pray during a June 2015 Bible study at the historically black Emanuel AME Church.
Those same people have the opportunity to testify Monday before Roof is sentenced.
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11:45 a.m.
Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof will return to a local jail after he pleads guilty to state murder charges, and will then be transferred to a federal prison.
A law enforcement official with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press that Roof would go back to the Charleston County jail after his hearing Monday in state court. The official says Roof will technically be in the custody of U.S. Marshals Service.
The official says Roof will be transferred to a Bureau of Prisons facility "in short order." The official spoke on a condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the case.
Roof was sentenced to death early this year on 33 federal charges related to the June 2015 slaughter at Emanuel AME Church. His state plea deal wraps up the prosecutions against him.
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2:50 a.m.
Convicted Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof is expected to plead guilty to state murder charges, leaving him to await federal execution and sparing his victims and their families the burden of a second trial.
The 23-year-old Roof is set to plead guilty Monday to all state charges, including nine counts of murder. It's part of a deal with prosecutors in exchange for a life prison sentence.
The self-avowed white supremacist was unapologetic at his federal trial as he heard days of testimony from survivors. In harrowing detail, they described the hail of bullets that began when parishioners closed their eyes to pray during a June 2015 Bible study at the historically black Emanuel AME Church.
Roof was convicted of 33 federal charges last year and sentenced to death.
