The white man accused of gunning down nine parishioners at a black church in South Carolina last month wants to plead guilty to over 30 federal charges, but his lawyer said in court on Friday that he couldn’t advise his client to do so until prosecutors say whether they’ll seek the death penalty.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant then entered a not guilty plea for Roof (21), who faces 33 federal charges including hate crimes, weapons charges and obstructing the practice of religion.
“Mr. Roof has told us that he wishes to plead guilty,” defence attorney David Bruck said. “Until we know whether the government will be seeking the death penalty, we are not able to advise Mr. Roof.”
The federal prosecution, particularly on hate crimes, has been expected since the June 17 shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
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Early on, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice said they felt the case met the qualifications for a hate crime, and Roof was indicted by a federal grand jury about a month after the killings.
Eighteen of the 33 charges against Roof could potentially carry the death penalty, while conviction on each of the others could mean a life prison sentence. Each charge also carries the possibility of hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.