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Judge Delays Trial of Dylan Roof, Accused Shooter at Mother Emanuel Church Last June

Circuit Judge J.C. Nicholson questions attorneys Wednesday at the Charleston County courthouse before he approved a delay in Dylann Roof’s murder trial.
Brad Nettles/Post & Courier
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Courtesy of the Post & Courier, Charleston, SC

    A South Carolina judge has delayed the state death-penalty trial of a man accused of killed nine black parishioners at the Charleston Emanuel AME church last June.

The murder trial of Dylann Roof originally scheduled for July, is now slated to start January 17th. Circuit Judge J.C. Nicholson granted the defense six more months to complete a psychiatric evaluation of the defendant, but ordered a monthly report on its progress

Attorney for several of the victims’ families, Andy Savage said most understand the reason for the delay.

“They want a fair trial because they don’t want to come back and have to go through this again in a year or two or five or six,” he said.

No details about Roof’s medical state were revealed because his records remain under seal. Jury selection is now scheduled to start in early December.

Roof also faces federal charges for the shooting.