Dylann Roof is competent to represent himself when the jury that found him guilty of killing nine black parishioners at a South Carolina church returns to court to decide his punishment, a judge has ruled.
With the 22-year-old representing himself, the process is sure to be unconventional. But even if Roof is sentenced to death, it is highly unlikely he would be executed soon.
While prosecutors plan to call up to 38 people related to the nine people killed and three who survived the June 2015 slaughter during Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, Roof said last week he plans on calling no witnesses and presenting no evidence.
Roof was unanimously found guilty last month of 33 federal charges, including hate crimes and obstruction of the practice of religion. A jury took less than three hours to return its verdict, and a judge dismissed the jury for a break over the Christmas holidays.
Typically in what is known as the sentencing phase, defence lawyers call relatives and other witnesses to testify about their client’s unsteady state of mind before and during the crimes. Given that background, the defence hopes, a jury might be more likely to spare the defendant’s life and opt against the death penalty.
But Roof, who is acting as his own lawyer, has said he plans to do no such thing.
In his journal, which was read in court during his trial, Roof said he does not believe in psychology, which he called «a Jewish invention» that «does nothing but invent diseases and tell people they have problems when they don’t».
Roof also seems to be determined to try to keep evidence embarrassing to him or his family out. Not only did he take over his own defence, but he asked the judge at a hearing last week if he could file a motion limiting what prosecutors can introduce.
Roof also was adamant that a transcript of a hearing where he was found mentally competent not be released to the public.
«I know this is not a legal argument, but the unsealing of the competency hearing defeats the purpose of me representing myself,» Roof said at last week’s hearing.
On Thursday, US District Judge Richard Gergel ordered another competency evaluation of Roof «in an abundance of caution» after his standby counsel filed a sealed motion again questioning Roof’s mental ability to proceed.
On Monday, after the objection of a lawyer representing media outlets including The Associated Press, Mr Gergel ordered the competency hearing to be closed to the public.
Saying he would have to sequester jurors if he opened up the proceedings, the judge promised to release a transcript after Roof is sentenced.
«This is an incredibly sensitive moment in this proceeding,» he said. «We are putting in the hands of 12 people the life and death of a person. »
After a day-long hearing, Mr Gergel ultimately ruled Roof is competent to stand trial and also to represent himself at sentencing. He also granted Roof’s request for an extra day to prepare for his case.
Court papers show prosecutors are expected to present evidence showing that Roof picked his victims because of their race, killed them to incite more violence, showed no remorse and killed three particularly vulnerable people who were 70 years old or older.
Roof also faces nine murder charges in state court, where prosecutors have also said they will seek the death penalty in a trial likely to begin next year.
Whether he is sentenced to death or not, it is unlikely Roof would be executed soon, in either jurisdiction. The federal government has not executed anyone since 2003, and there are years of appeals between a death sentence being passed and carried out.
South Carolina’s death chamber has not been used since 2011, due at least in part to a lack of availability of the drugs the state uses for lethal injection.
AP

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© Source: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/dylann-roof-to-defend-himself-in-sentencing-for-south-carolina-church-killings-35337229.html
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January 2, 2017
JERUSALEM — Police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for three hours under caution at his official residence in Jerusalem on Monday on suspicion of receiving gifts from businessmen in breach of his role as a public servant.
Part of a police statement issued after the questioning ended said that «investigators questioned PM Benjamin Netanyahu under caution on suspicion of receiving benefits. » No additional details were initially given.
In questioning a suspect under caution, police investigators believe that the person they are interviewing has a case to answer.
The move to question the Israeli leader was authorized by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who decided after a preliminary inquiry that there was enough evidence to open a criminal investigation.
Mandelblit issued a long statement which did not detail the matters being investigated but said the information warranted questioning under caution.
It also mentioned other suspicions which had been checked but did not yield evidence to warrant additional criminal enquiries.
«The nature of the investigation precludes us at this stage from giving details of the ongoing investigation but we will consider releasing more information from time to time according to developments,» Mandelblit’s statement said.
He added that investigation began three months ago but new, detailed information had come to light during the past month which supported questioning the prime minister under caution.
Before the questioning began, Netanyahu told his ruling Likud faction in parliament that those anticipating his downfall should not expect his imminent departure.
«Wait with the celebrations, don’t rush,» Netanyahu said. «I’ve said it before and I’ll say it once again: there will be nothing because there is nothing. »
Photographers were camped outside the heavily guarded residence, hoping to get pictures of investigators arriving. Black screens were erected inside the gates of the property to block the view.
Haaretz and other newspapers said the probe related to gifts worth «hundreds of thousands of shekels» ($1=3.85 shekels) given to Netanyahu by Israeli and foreign businessmen.
Channel 2, a commercial network, said the investigation was one of two cases now open against the prime minister, although it said details of the second remained unclear.
Netanyahu, 67, has been in power on and off since 1996. He is currently in his fourth term as prime minister and will become Israel’s longest-serving leader if he stays in office until the end of next year.
He and his wife, Sara, have weathered several scandals over the years, including investigations into the misuse of state funds and an audit of the family’s spending on everything from laundry to ice cream. They have denied any wrongdoing.
Netanyahu is not the first prime minister to be questioned in a criminal case.
Ehud Olmert, who held office from 2006 to 2009, is currently serving 18 months in prison after being convicted of breach of trust and bribery in 2014.
Former prime minister Ariel Sharon was questioned while in office in 2003 and 2004 over allegations of bribery and corruption involving him and his two sons. In 2006, his son Omri was convicted of corruption and served time in prison.
Netanyahu’s police appointment drew a barrage of commentary from the center-left opposition in parliament, with politicians calling for him to go. But Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, said that for the good of the country, he hoped the prime minister would be cleared.
«I wish for him and his family, and the State of Israel, that we uncover that there was no fault in his behavior. If two prime ministers in a row fall from office because of corruption, it will be very hard to rehabilitate the public’s trust in its leadership. »
Israeli commentators pointed out that while Netanyahu may be questioned, that has happened many times in the past and prime ministers have gone on governing, sometimes for years.

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© Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2017/0102/Investigators-question-Israel-s-Netanyahu-over-alleged-receipt-of-gifts
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