by Glenn Smith, Jennifer Berry Hawes and Abigail Darlington

January 9, 2017

 

With his life on the line, Dylann Roof opted Monday to offer no witnesses or evidence in his defense as a federal jury prepares Tuesday to decide whether he should be put to death for killing nine black worshipers in Charleston.

Acting as his own attorney and with none of his family in the courtroom, the 22-year-old white supremacist declined to mount a defense in his hate crimes trial. He rested his case without adding further comment.

Closing arguments are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. It’s anyone’s guess whether Roof will try to convince the 12-member jury to spare his life. He gave only a brief opening statement, insisting that he isn’t mentally ill.

 

Full article:

http://www.postandcourier.com/church_shooting/federal-prosecutors-rest-case-in-penalty-phase-of-dylann-roof/article_756f914c-d615-11e6-937d-2f583e2d05fc.html