The deal with state prosecutors, who also had been pursuing the death penalty, comes in exchange for a life prison sentence on the state charges. Roof was convicted late last year of 33 federal charges. Relatives of each of the nine people killed attended court each day of his federal trial. During his federal trial, Roof was placid and, at times, unapologetic. Twice found competent to stand trial, Roof fired his defense team for the sentencing portion of his proceedings, calling no witnesses or putting up any evidence of his own.

Source: The Guardian April 10, 2017 18:20 UTC