CHARLESTON, S.C. – The defense is asking for a delay in the state death penalty trial of Dylann Roof, who is charged with murder in the shooting deaths last year of nine black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
Roof's attorneys argue in court filings that substantial preparation and investigation work remains to be done. They say if the trial begins on July 11 as is now scheduled, it would deny Roof an adequate defense.
The filings don't go into detail, saying some of the reasons are contained in client-attorney and attorney work material presented to the court under seal.
A hearing is set Wednesday on the request to delay the trial.
Roof faces numerous charges in federal court, but no date for that trial has been set.
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