WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Friday, Roof was found mentally fit to face trial. Roof has confessed to the June 2015 shootings of the nine members of Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. He later said he had hoped to incite a race war in the United States.
He faces 33 federal charges, including 12 hate crimes, and is eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
"CBS Charleston affiliate WCSC-TV reports that Roof, facing 33 charges including hate crime and murder, told US District Judge Richard Gergel that he has reviewed the order that declared him competent to stand trial, and that he felt ready to represent himself," CBS News reported.
Gergel granted permission to Roof to represent himself — advising him that it is "strategically unwise" — and his previous lawyers would be available as stand-by counsel, the judge told the defendant in court, according to CBS.
