Posted on 12/15/2016 7:45:18 PM PST by SeekAndFind
CHARLESTON, S.C. — After nearly a week of painful testimony that vividly re-created the massacre at this city’s famed Mother Emanuel church, it took jurors about two hours Thursday to convict Dylann Roof in his federal hate crimes trial.
Roof was charged with 33 counts in his federal indictment. He was found guilty on every single one. Family members of the nine parishioners gunned down last year nodded silently as each charge was read aloud. Some held hands, their eyes shut tightly, as each guilty verdict was announced in the courtroom just a mile from the church.
With Roof’s guilt effectively unquestioned, this verdict was seen as likely, and the trial largely hinged on what happens next. Mirroring what happened during the Boston Marathon bombing trial last year — the last case that saw the Justice Department obtain a rare federal death sentence — there was no real question about guilt. Prosecutors played video footage of Roof admitting his guilt to FBI agents, and Roof’s attorneys did not argue that he was innocent.
Instead, the larger question surrounding the trial has focused on the next portion of the case, which will deal with whether Roof is sentenced to death or life in prison.
This sentencing phase is set to begin next month, and it remains far less clear what will happen there, as Roof said Thursday he still intends to represent himself. Federal death sentences are rare, but the government has opted to seek one in this case, even though this decision has caused some unease among relatives of the victims. It is also unclear when and if the government would be able to carry out such a sentence.
U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel on Thursday dismissed the jurors until the next phase of the trial begins on Jan. 3.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
This pitiful sad sack?
Any real redneck would put him to shame.
In fact I’d say a wimpy redneck wannabe. A worshiper of some idol crafted out of redneckdum that is more imaginary than a cardboard cutout of Larry the Cable Guy.
Die sob. We don’t kill innocent Christians over the flag that I love!
The pulled him over, arrested him, took him for burger king. True story.
They need to give him a seat in mr. zappy
Agree!!!
Leni
If we did allow torture this guy deserves it. Tricking those poor people who opened their hearts to pray with him and welcome him. Death is too good.
he’s going to be eaten alive in prison....may God have mercy on his soul....
He walked in on innocent people at prayer, they welcomed him, he murdered them. Yeah, he’s pretty much garbage wrapped in skin.
Good.
fry him. bury him in a clown suit.
I hope that demonic little creature will be executed soon. I curse the day he was born. He went to that church and was with the people there a while before he killed them. Senseless yet calculated evil.
Death sentence or life in prison will result in the same outcome. If he is in general population his life expectancy will be measured in days. Or less...
Not a true story. A small police department got food for him from Burger King. They did not take him there.
A civilized public hanging explicitly sanctioned by law would be a better outcome.
He almost changed his mind because they were so nice to him.
While nothing justifies what he did he was inspired by the racial tensions stirred up by Obama and the corrupt media. Too bad they won’t be held accountable, too.
A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client
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