Next Roof hearing set for April 5

BY JOHN MONK
COLUMBIA, SC

A federal judge has set April 5 as the next date for lawyers to get together to try to determine a trial date for Dylann Roof, the accused killer in last June’s Charleston church slayings.

Judge Richard Gergel also has granted a request by Roof that he be allowed the right not to appear at that hearing.

Since last September, Gergel has held several hearings at his Charleston courtroom, during which he grilled attorneys for Roof and the federal government about when they would be ready to set a trial date. Gergel has also pressed the government on whether it would seek the death penalty against Roof.

Gergel cannot set a trial date until he knows whether federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty. A death penalty trial may take months so requires special scheduling ...

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