Attorneys for a man who faces the death penalty in the shooting deaths of nine parishioners at Charleston's Emmanuel AME Church say they will present evidence that he suffers a mental illness.
Attorneys filed a notice Monday that they plan to introduce the evidence during the sentencing phase of Dylann Roof's federal trial.
The 22-year-old Roof stands trial in federal court in November for hate crimes and other charges in the June 2015 shootings at the church. He also faces nine murder charges in state court in a death-penalty trial set for January.
There is a hearing in the state case on Wednesday and a hearing in the federal case next week.
Judge to weigh moving up trial of church shooting defendant
A judge is considering whether Charleston church shooting defendant Dylann Roof should go to trial in state court before his federal trial.
His state trial on murder charges is currently set for January but prosecutor Scarlett Wilson wants the state to try Roof before his November federal trial on hate crimes and other counts.
Circuit Judge J.C. Nicholson has called a hearing later Wednesday on the matter.
Public Defender Ashley Pennington has called Wilson's request to move up the state trial "reckless and shortsighted."
The 22-year-old defendant faces the death penalty in both state and federal court in the June 2015 shooting deaths of nine black parishioners at the Emanuel AME church.
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