Dylann Roof. (Charleston County Sheriff’s Office via Reuters)The white man charged with killing nine black parishioners at a church in Charleston, S.C., last year will be allowed to represent himself in his federal hate-crimes trial, a judge said Monday. U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel’s decision Monday came as jury selection is getting underway in the federal trial after a three-week delay. Roof faces 33 federal counts of hate crimes and faces the death sentence in a separate state murder trial scheduled for 2017. Further reading:Accused Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof competent to stand trial, judge rulesPolice probe threatening letters in Charleston, at least one of which referred to RoofThe Justice Dept.

Source: Washington Post November 28, 2016 15:47 UTC