Charleston suspect’s attorneys want death penalty ruled illegal

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Attorneys for Dylann Roof, the white man charged with killing nine black parishioners at a South Carolina church, want a federal judge to rule the death penalty unconstitutional and allow their client to plead guilty and serve life in prison.

Lawyers for 22-year-old Dylan Roof filed the motion Monday saying a flawed process of sitting juries willing to recommend the death penalty violates the rights of both potential jurors and defendants.

In the filing, Assistant Federal Public Defender Sarah Gannett said that while some aspects of jury selection in death penalty cases have been considered by the courts, other issues she puts forward are being raised for the first time.