Dylann Roof death sentence appeal focuses on Charleston church shooter’s capacity to stand trial

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for May 25 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The man on federal death row for the racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation was wrongly allowed to represent himself during a critical phase of his trial, his attorneys argued Tuesday, saying Dylann Roof’s continuing “delusional belief” he'd be saved by White nationalists — but only if he kept mental health evidence out of his defense — should have shown his trial judge he wasn’t competent. Before a three-judge panel, Roof's attorneys argued that an appellate court should vacate his convictions and death sentence, or remand his case to court for a “proper competency evaluation,” something they argue wasn't done during his trial in 2017. That year, Roof became the first person in the U.S. sentenced to death for a federal hate crime. Authorities have said Roof opened fire during the closing prayer of a 2015 Bible study at Charleston's Mother Emanuel AME Church, raining down dozens of bullets on those assembled. He was 21 years old at the time. Representing himself for… Read full this story

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