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| Dylann Roof's attorneys seek mistrial after survivor's opening day testimony | Dylann Roof's attorneys seek mistrial after survivor's opening day testimony |
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| Defence attorneys for Dylann Roof, the 22-year-old white supremacist accused of murdering nine black churchgoers in a brutal hate crime, unsuccessfully attempted to force a mistrial during a second day of heated proceedings on Thursday. | Defence attorneys for Dylann Roof, the 22-year-old white supremacist accused of murdering nine black churchgoers in a brutal hate crime, unsuccessfully attempted to force a mistrial during a second day of heated proceedings on Thursday. |
| In a motion filed to the court, Roof’s attorneys argued that earlier testimony from Felicia Sanders, one of the survivors of the deadly assault on 17 June 2015, may have prejudiced the jury to sentence the young man to death. | In a motion filed to the court, Roof’s attorneys argued that earlier testimony from Felicia Sanders, one of the survivors of the deadly assault on 17 June 2015, may have prejudiced the jury to sentence the young man to death. |
| Sanders, who told the court on Wednesday that she had watched her son die during the shooting, said that Roof was “evil, evil, evil as can be” as he refused to look at her throughout her evidence. She added, under questioning from defence attorney Richard Bruck, that “there’s no place on earth for him except the pit of hell”. | Sanders, who told the court on Wednesday that she had watched her son die during the shooting, said that Roof was “evil, evil, evil as can be” as he refused to look at her throughout her evidence. She added, under questioning from defence attorney Richard Bruck, that “there’s no place on earth for him except the pit of hell”. |
| The defense motion argued that while the “strength and authenticity of the witness’s emotion was both apparent and entirely understandable … such statements simply do not belong in a courtroom”. | The defense motion argued that while the “strength and authenticity of the witness’s emotion was both apparent and entirely understandable … such statements simply do not belong in a courtroom”. |
| During fiery exchanges between the defence and the prosecution on Thursday morning, US assistant attorney Jay Richardson said Sanders’ remarks were not a reference to sentencing and argued that hell “is also where he’s [Roof] going if he dies of natural causes or if the state does it”. | |
| Judge Richard Gergel rejected the mistrial application but offered brief general guidance to the jury, telling them that sentencing “is only your decision. It is not the decision of this court, the attorneys or the witnesses.” | |
| The motion also confirmed that Roof’s mother, who attended court on Wednesday, had collapsed after opening arguments. “She was admitted to the hospital with a heart attack,” the motion said. | The motion also confirmed that Roof’s mother, who attended court on Wednesday, had collapsed after opening arguments. “She was admitted to the hospital with a heart attack,” the motion said. |
| Roof faces 33 charges, including hate crimes, murder, attempted murder and obstruction of religion, and could face the death penalty. He has also been charged in a state murder case, which also carries the death penalty and is scheduled follow this trial. | Roof faces 33 charges, including hate crimes, murder, attempted murder and obstruction of religion, and could face the death penalty. He has also been charged in a state murder case, which also carries the death penalty and is scheduled follow this trial. |
| The guilt phase of the trial is not expected to last more than six days. The court will then commence a sentencing phase, where Roof has indicated he will represent himself, making it more likely, experts say, that he will be sentenced to death. | The guilt phase of the trial is not expected to last more than six days. The court will then commence a sentencing phase, where Roof has indicated he will represent himself, making it more likely, experts say, that he will be sentenced to death. |
| During Thursday morning’s proceedings the jury were shown CCTV footage of some of the victims and survivors arriving at the historic Mother Emanuel in Charleston, South Carolina, in the hours before the massacre occurred. | During Thursday morning’s proceedings the jury were shown CCTV footage of some of the victims and survivors arriving at the historic Mother Emanuel in Charleston, South Carolina, in the hours before the massacre occurred. |
| First to arrive, the CCTV footage indicated, was 45 year-old mother of three Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, followed shortly by the eldest victim, 87 year-old Susie Jackson, who seen walking slowly up the the steps into the church. | First to arrive, the CCTV footage indicated, was 45 year-old mother of three Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, followed shortly by the eldest victim, 87 year-old Susie Jackson, who seen walking slowly up the the steps into the church. |
| The church’s pastor, Clementa Pinckney, who welcomed Roof into the church and invited him to sit next to him during the Bible study class, was seen mingling with congregants outside the church. | The church’s pastor, Clementa Pinckney, who welcomed Roof into the church and invited him to sit next to him during the Bible study class, was seen mingling with congregants outside the church. |
| The footage also captured the moment that Roof arrived in the church’s parking lot and walked into the building. He spent about 50 minutes inside the building, first listening to the Bible study class and then opening fire, using eight magazines worth of ammunition, shooting victims “over and over again”, according to Richardson. The CCTV footage showed Roof exiting the building calmly with an object that appeared to be a pistol in his hand, glancing briefly around and then jumping into his car. | The footage also captured the moment that Roof arrived in the church’s parking lot and walked into the building. He spent about 50 minutes inside the building, first listening to the Bible study class and then opening fire, using eight magazines worth of ammunition, shooting victims “over and over again”, according to Richardson. The CCTV footage showed Roof exiting the building calmly with an object that appeared to be a pistol in his hand, glancing briefly around and then jumping into his car. |
| The final footage played to the jury was of one of the parishioners, Reverend Daniel Simmons, 74, being rushed out on a stretcher at around 9.30. Simmons died shortly after. | The final footage played to the jury was of one of the parishioners, Reverend Daniel Simmons, 74, being rushed out on a stretcher at around 9.30. Simmons died shortly after. |
| The jury also heard from lead crime scene investigator Brittany Burke, a former employee of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, who described the crime scene as “very hectic” with bullet cartridges and magazine casings “sprayed throughout the room”. Burke said it took her team of four investigators between eight and nine hours to document the scene. There was so much evidence, she said, that they ran out of evidence markers and had to use index cards to complete their evaluation of the scene. | The jury also heard from lead crime scene investigator Brittany Burke, a former employee of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, who described the crime scene as “very hectic” with bullet cartridges and magazine casings “sprayed throughout the room”. Burke said it took her team of four investigators between eight and nine hours to document the scene. There was so much evidence, she said, that they ran out of evidence markers and had to use index cards to complete their evaluation of the scene. |
| Burke will continue her testimony into the afternoon as prosecutors prepare to introduce a series of graphic photographs from the crime scene. Some of the victims’ family members and survivors who have attended proceedings have indicated they will not be present for this portion of the trial. | Burke will continue her testimony into the afternoon as prosecutors prepare to introduce a series of graphic photographs from the crime scene. Some of the victims’ family members and survivors who have attended proceedings have indicated they will not be present for this portion of the trial. |
| Throughout Thursday’s proceedings Roof stared ahead, away from witnesses and his lawyers. He occasionally combed through papers on the table in front of him, and expressed no emotion. | Throughout Thursday’s proceedings Roof stared ahead, away from witnesses and his lawyers. He occasionally combed through papers on the table in front of him, and expressed no emotion. |