Florid
US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed that he will direct the US Justice Department to "vigorously" pursue the death penalty for perpetrators once he takes charge.
Just days after President Joe Biden granted pardon to 37 death row inmates, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that as soon as he is inaugurated in January 2025, he will issue the order to protect Americans from the "monsters".
<h2>What did Trump say?</h2>
Trump, on his social media platform, vowed "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-are-the-three-death-row-inmates-joe-biden-didnt-pardon-heres-all-you-need-to-know-786345">Who are the three death row inmates Joe Biden didn't pardon? Here's all you need to know</a>
"We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!," he stressed.
<h2>Can he reverse the pardons?</h2>
No, incoming president Donald Trump cannot change or reverse the clemency granted by the incumbent president.
According to Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution, the POTUS "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." These pardons cannot be overturned, by a court, Congress or another President for that matter.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-good-conscience-us-president-biden-commutes-37-out-of-40-federal-death-row-sentences-as-term-nears-end-786267" target="_blank">‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end</a>
<h2>Biden's clemency</h2>
US President Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country. 
The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shooting, yet they received clemency.
In a statement, he said, “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss.”
"But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted."
However, three convicts, Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, who was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015; Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, who along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, carried out the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013; and Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting were not part of Biden's clemency.
(With inputs from agencies)

Trump, on his social media platform, vowed: "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters"



Florid US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed that he will direct the US Justice Department to "vigorously" pursue the death penalty for perpetrators once he takes charge. Just days after President Joe Biden granted pardon to 37 death row inmates, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that as soon as he is inaugurated in January 2025, he will issue the order to protect Americans from the "monsters". What did Trump say? Trump, on his social media platform, vowed "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters." Also read | Who are the three death row inmates Joe Biden didn't pardon? Here's all you need to know "We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!," he stressed. Can he reverse the pardons? No, incoming president Donald Trump cannot change or reverse the clemency granted by the incumbent president. According to Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution, the POTUS "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." These pardons cannot be overturned, by a court, Congress or another President for that matter. Also read | ‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end Biden's clemency US President Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country. The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shooting, yet they received clemency. In a statement, he said, “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss.” "But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted." However, three convicts, Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, who was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015; Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, who along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, carried out the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013; and Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting were not part of Biden's clemency. (With inputs from agencies)

Can Trump overturn Biden's pardons? President-elect vows to pursue death penalty 'vigorously'

US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed that he will direct the US Justice Department to "vigorously" pursue the death penalty for perpetrators once he takes charge.

Just days after President Joe Biden granted pardon to 37 death row inmates, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that as soon as he is inaugurated in January 2025, he will issue the order to protect Americans from the "monsters".

<h2>What did Trump say?</h2>

Trump, on his social media platform, vowed "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-are-the-three-death-row-inmates-joe-biden-didnt-pardon-heres-all-you-need-to-know-786345">Who are the three death row inmates Joe Biden didn't pardon? Here's all you need to know</a>

"We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!," he stressed.

<h2>Can he reverse the pardons?</h2>

No, incoming president Donald Trump cannot change or reverse the clemency granted by the incumbent president.

According to Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution, the POTUS "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." These pardons cannot be overturned, by a court, Congress or another President for that matter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-good-conscience-us-president-biden-commutes-37-out-of-40-federal-death-row-sentences-as-term-nears-end-786267" target="_blank">‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end</a>

<h2>Biden's clemency</h2>

US President Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country.&nbsp;

The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shooting, yet they received clemency.

In a statement, he&nbsp;said, “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss.”

"But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted."

However, three convicts, Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, who was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015; Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, who along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, carried out the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013; and Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting were not part of Biden's clemency.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed that he will direct the US Justice Department to "vigorously" pursue the death penalty for perpetrators once he takes charge.

US President-elect Donald Trump has vowed that he will direct the US Justice Department to "vigorously" pursue the death penalty for perpetrators once he takes charge. Just days after President Joe Biden granted pardon to 37 death row inmates, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that as soon as he is inaugurated in January 2025, he will issue the order to protect Americans from the "monsters". What did Trump say? Trump, on his social media platform, vowed "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters." Also read | Who are the three death row inmates Joe Biden didn't pardon? Here's all you need to know "We will be a Nation of Law and Order again!," he stressed. Can he reverse the pardons? No, incoming president Donald Trump cannot change or reverse the clemency granted by the incumbent president. According to Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution, the POTUS "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." These pardons cannot be overturned, by a court, Congress or another President for that matter. Also read | ‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end Biden's clemency US President Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country. The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shooting, yet they received clemency. In a statement, he said, “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss.” "But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vice president, and now president, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted." However, three convicts, Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, who was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015; Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, who along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, carried out the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013; and Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting were not part of Biden's clemency. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country.&nbsp;

The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shootings, yet they received clemency. This begs the question: why were three death row inmates left to meet the grim fate?

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-good-conscience-us-president-biden-commutes-37-out-of-40-federal-death-row-sentences-as-term-nears-end-786267">‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end</a>

Here's what you need to know about the three individuals that were not part of Biden's clemency:

<h2>Dylann Roof</h2>

Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015.

On June 17, 2015, during a Bible study, Roof, who was 21 years old at the time, shot dead nine people and injured a 10th one at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.&nbsp;

<img alt="Dylann Roof" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="03924478-4ae8-4a66-b85c-6a8cb7817879" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T082859.905.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: Wikipedia)

All of Roof's victims were African Americans.

When caught, he confessed that he carried out the shooting in hopes of igniting a race war.&nbsp;

On December 15, 2016, he was convicted in a federal court on 33 charges, including hate crimes, and subsequently, on January 11, 2017, he was sentenced to death for his crimes.&nbsp;

<h2>Dzhokhar Tsarnaev</h2>

Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was behind the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013.

On April 15, 2013, the two brothers planted a series of home-made pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Their attack claimed the lives of three people, while 264 others were injured.&nbsp;

<img alt="Dzhokhar Tsarnaev" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1715bc0e-d503-4e34-af47-92237ef4c093" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T085320.202.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: Wikipedia)

Later, in a getaway attempt, the two brothers killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier while attempting to steal his weapon.

In the ensuing shoot-out, Tamerlan was killed and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was injured.

He was charged with usage of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, in addition to aiding and abetting murder. On May 15, 2015, the jury sentenced 21-year-old Dzhokhar to death by lethal injection.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-subway-horror-illegal-immigrant-sebastian-zapeta-charged-for-setting-sleeping-woman-on-fire-786328">New York subway horror: Illegal immigrant Sebastian Zapeta charged for setting sleeping woman on fire&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Robert Bowers</h2>

Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, an antisemitic terrorist attack that took place at the Tree of Life—Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2018.

On October 27, 2018, during the Shabbat morning services, he killed 11 people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors.

<img alt="Robert Bowers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59c26bb5-4805-4e99-a94d-baf16aeb32b7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-12-24T090418.263.jpg" />

(Image courtesy: AFP)

The attack is considered the deadliest on a local Jewish community in American history so far, second only to the 2019 Jersey City shooting.

Bowers, 46-year-old at the time of his crime, was sentenced to death by legal injection last year, on August 3, 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country. The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shootings, yet they received clemency.

US President Joe Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country. The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shootings, yet they received clemency. This begs the question: why were three death row inmates left to meet the grim fate? Also read | ‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end Here's what you need to know about the three individuals that were not part of Biden's clemency: Dylann Roof Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015. On June 17, 2015, during a Bible study, Roof, who was 21 years old at the time, shot dead nine people and injured a 10th one at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. (Image courtesy: Wikipedia) All of Roof's victims were African Americans. When caught, he confessed that he carried out the shooting in hopes of igniting a race war. On December 15, 2016, he was convicted in a federal court on 33 charges, including hate crimes, and subsequently, on January 11, 2017, he was sentenced to death for his crimes. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was behind the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. On April 15, 2013, the two brothers planted a series of home-made pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Their attack claimed the lives of three people, while 264 others were injured. (Image courtesy: Wikipedia) Later, in a getaway attempt, the two brothers killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier while attempting to steal his weapon. In the ensuing shoot-out, Tamerlan was killed and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was injured. He was charged with usage of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, in addition to aiding and abetting murder. On May 15, 2015, the jury sentenced 21-year-old Dzhokhar to death by lethal injection. Also read | New York subway horror: Illegal immigrant Sebastian Zapeta charged for setting sleeping woman on fire Robert Bowers Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, an antisemitic terrorist attack that took place at the Tree of Life—Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2018. On October 27, 2018, during the Shabbat morning services, he killed 11 people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors. (Image courtesy: AFP) The attack is considered the deadliest on a local Jewish community in American history so far, second only to the 2019 Jersey City shooting. Bowers, 46-year-old at the time of his crime, was sentenced to death by legal injection last year, on August 3, 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

Who are the three death row inmates Joe Biden didn't pardon? Here's all you need to know

Washington, United States
US President Joe Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country. 
The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shootings, yet they received clemency. This begs the question: why were three death row inmates left to meet the grim fate?
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-good-conscience-us-president-biden-commutes-37-out-of-40-federal-death-row-sentences-as-term-nears-end-786267">‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end</a>
Here's what you need to know about the three individuals that were not part of Biden's clemency:
<h2>Dylann Roof</h2>
Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015.
On June 17, 2015, during a Bible study, Roof, who was 21 years old at the time, shot dead nine people and injured a 10th one at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. 
<img alt="Dylann Roof" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="03924478-4ae8-4a66-b85c-6a8cb7817879" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/New wion - 2024-12-24T082859.905.jpg"/>
(Image courtesy: Wikipedia)
All of Roof's victims were African Americans.
When caught, he confessed that he carried out the shooting in hopes of igniting a race war. 
On December 15, 2016, he was convicted in a federal court on 33 charges, including hate crimes, and subsequently, on January 11, 2017, he was sentenced to death for his crimes. 
<h2>Dzhokhar Tsarnaev</h2>
Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was behind the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013.
On April 15, 2013, the two brothers planted a series of home-made pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Their attack claimed the lives of three people, while 264 others were injured. 
<img alt="Dzhokhar Tsarnaev" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1715bc0e-d503-4e34-af47-92237ef4c093" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/New wion - 2024-12-24T085320.202.jpg"/>
(Image courtesy: Wikipedia)
Later, in a getaway attempt, the two brothers killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier while attempting to steal his weapon.
In the ensuing shoot-out, Tamerlan was killed and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was injured.
He was charged with usage of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, in addition to aiding and abetting murder. On May 15, 2015, the jury sentenced 21-year-old Dzhokhar to death by lethal injection.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-subway-horror-illegal-immigrant-sebastian-zapeta-charged-for-setting-sleeping-woman-on-fire-786328">New York subway horror: Illegal immigrant Sebastian Zapeta charged for setting sleeping woman on fire </a> 
<h2>Robert Bowers</h2>
Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, an antisemitic terrorist attack that took place at the Tree of Life—Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2018.
On October 27, 2018, during the Shabbat morning services, he killed 11 people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors.
<img alt="Robert Bowers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59c26bb5-4805-4e99-a94d-baf16aeb32b7" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/New wion - 2024-12-24T090418.263.jpg"/>
(Image courtesy: AFP)
The attack is considered the deadliest on a local Jewish community in American history so far, second only to the 2019 Jersey City shooting.
Bowers, 46-year-old at the time of his crime, was sentenced to death by legal injection last year, on August 3, 2023.
(With inputs from agencies)

Why were three out of 40 death row inmates left to meet the grim fate? Here's what you need to know about the three individuals that were not part of Joe Biden's clemency



Washington, United States US President Joe Biden on Monday (Dec 23) commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row in the country. The crimes of the 37 convicts who had their death sentences "reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole" included murder, kidnapping and shootings, yet they received clemency. This begs the question: why were three death row inmates left to meet the grim fate? Also read | ‘In good conscience,’ US President Biden commutes 37 out of 40 federal death row sentences as term nears end Here's what you need to know about the three individuals that were not part of Biden's clemency: Dylann Roof Dylann Roof, a white Supremacist, was behind the Charleston church shooting of 2015. On June 17, 2015, during a Bible study, Roof, who was 21 years old at the time, shot dead nine people and injured a 10th one at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. (Image courtesy: Wikipedia) All of Roof's victims were African Americans. When caught, he confessed that he carried out the shooting in hopes of igniting a race war. On December 15, 2016, he was convicted in a federal court on 33 charges, including hate crimes, and subsequently, on January 11, 2017, he was sentenced to death for his crimes. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Dzhokhar "Jahar" Anzorovich Tsarnaev, along with his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was behind the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. On April 15, 2013, the two brothers planted a series of home-made pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Their attack claimed the lives of three people, while 264 others were injured. (Image courtesy: Wikipedia) Later, in a getaway attempt, the two brothers killed MIT Police Officer Sean Collier while attempting to steal his weapon. In the ensuing shoot-out, Tamerlan was killed and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was injured. He was charged with usage of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, in addition to aiding and abetting murder. On May 15, 2015, the jury sentenced 21-year-old Dzhokhar to death by lethal injection. Also read | New York subway horror: Illegal immigrant Sebastian Zapeta charged for setting sleeping woman on fire Robert Bowers Robert Gregory Bowers is the perpetrator behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, an antisemitic terrorist attack that took place at the Tree of Life—Or L'Simcha Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 2018. On October 27, 2018, during the Shabbat morning services, he killed 11 people and wounded six, including several Holocaust survivors. (Image courtesy: AFP) The attack is considered the deadliest on a local Jewish community in American history so far, second only to the 2019 Jersey City shooting. Bowers, 46-year-old at the time of his crime, was sentenced to death by legal injection last year, on August 3, 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

Dylann Roof, the self-described white supremacist who gunned down nine African American parishioners at a historic church in Charleston last year, was found guilty of all charges Thursday and could now face the death penalty.

A federal jury in the southern US port city needed only two hours to find Roof, 22, guilty on 33 counts, including hate crimes resulting in death.&nbsp;

The attack on a Bible study group at the historic church known to most as &quot;Mother Emanuel&quot; shocked the nation, and exposed the deep divides in America over race and access to guns.

&quot;He executed them because he believed they were nothing more than animals,&quot; federal prosecutor Nathan Williams said during his closing argument.

&quot;His actions in the church are the best reflections of the vastness of his hatred.&quot;

The guilty verdict sends the trial into the penalty phase, which begins January 3. Roof, who did not testify during the trial, has elected to represent himself despite the prosecutors` vow to seek a death sentence.&nbsp;

The defendant showed no emotion and traced his fingers on the table in front of him as the 33 guilty verdicts were read out.

In a videotaped confession shown in court last week, Roof calmly told FBI agents that he carried out the June 17, 2015 attack at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in retaliation for what he said were crimes committed by blacks against whites.

Three people survived the shooting spree. None of the survivors or family members of victims spoke to reporters after the trial concluded.

Defense attorney David Bruck hinted at mental illness in his closing argument, saying Roof had not grown up in a family with racist beliefs, had no escape plan or money, and hadn`t communicated with white supremacists.

The racist beliefs were &quot;downloaded directly from the internet into his brain... Everything he`s doing is just an imitation,&quot; Bruck said.

He called on jurors to &quot;look past the surface&quot; and consider that Roof didn`t realize he had shot nine people, thinking he had killed four or five.&nbsp;

The gunman, wearing heavy clothing on a hot summer evening, was a loner without a best friend, he added.FBI agent Joseph Hamski testified on Tuesday that Roof had traveled a half-dozen times to the church in the months before the shooting.

Roof documented the trips with photographs in which he posed in front of historic sites linked to the US South during times of slavery, sometimes wearing a jacket with the flags of apartheid-era South Africa and Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.&nbsp;

Many of the images were posted in a hate-filled online manifesto that included racist language directed at African Americans and other minorities.

Roof chuckled during his confession, saying he hadn`t gone to another church &quot;because there could be white people there.&quot;

The gunman said he became inspired after reading about a Florida neighborhood watchman`s 2012 killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, a case that sparked widespread protests.

&quot;After I read that, I typed in -- for some reason I typed in black on white crime,&quot; Roof said.

&quot;I had to do it, because somebody had to do something because black people are killing white people every day.&quot;The trial featured gripping, heartrending testimony from survivors of the shooting at the church -- the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the southern US, dating back to the late 1700s when a handful of slaves gathered to worship with free African Americans.

One survivor had lain in a pool of her son and her aunt`s blood, cradling her granddaughter as the massacre unfolded. The young girl also lived.&nbsp;

Felicia Sanders called Roof &quot;evil&quot; and said &quot;there`s no place on Earth for him except the pit of hell.&quot;

Roof`s mother had a heart attack duPring the emotional testimony and had to be hospitalized.

Roof`s lawyers called no witnesses, resting their case after failing to persuade the judge to allow two mental health experts to testify on behalf of the defendant.

After the jury was dismissed, Roof calmly told Judge Richard Gergel that he still wishes to represent himself during the sentencing phase.

Gergel cautioned against that, telling the young man that his lawyers &quot;zealously defended you.&quot; 
&quot;It`s important to appreciate the gravity of the situation,&quot; he said.

Other charges against Roof included hate crimes resulting in an attempt to kill; obstruction of exercise of religion resulting in death or an attempt to kill; and assorted firearms charges with the intent to commit murder or a violent crime.

Roof is also facing state murder charges in South Carolina, though that trial is not due to begin until January 17. State prosecutors also are seeking the death penalty. 
 
(AFP)

Dylann Roof gunned down 9 African American parishioners at a church in Charleston last year

Dylann Roof, the self-described white supremacist who gunned down nine African American parishioners at a historic church in Charleston last year, was found guilty of all charges Thursday and could now face the death penalty. A federal jury in the southern US port city needed only two hours to find Roof, 22, guilty on 33 counts, including hate crimes resulting in death. The attack on a Bible study group at the historic church known to most as "Mother Emanuel" shocked the nation, and exposed the deep divides in America over race and access to guns. "He executed them because he believed they were nothing more than animals," federal prosecutor Nathan Williams said during his closing argument. "His actions in the church are the best reflections of the vastness of his hatred." The guilty verdict sends the trial into the penalty phase, which begins January 3. Roof, who did not testify during the trial, has elected to represent himself despite the prosecutors` vow to seek a death sentence. The defendant showed no emotion and traced his fingers on the table in front of him as the 33 guilty verdicts were read out. In a videotaped confession shown in court last week, Roof calmly told FBI agents that he carried out the June 17, 2015 attack at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in retaliation for what he said were crimes committed by blacks against whites. Three people survived the shooting spree. None of the survivors or family members of victims spoke to reporters after the trial concluded. Defense attorney David Bruck hinted at mental illness in his closing argument, saying Roof had not grown up in a family with racist beliefs, had no escape plan or money, and hadn`t communicated with white supremacists. The racist beliefs were "downloaded directly from the internet into his brain... Everything he`s doing is just an imitation," Bruck said. He called on jurors to "look past the surface" and consider that Roof didn`t realize he had shot nine people, thinking he had killed four or five. The gunman, wearing heavy clothing on a hot summer evening, was a loner without a best friend, he added.FBI agent Joseph Hamski testified on Tuesday that Roof had traveled a half-dozen times to the church in the months before the shooting. Roof documented the trips with photographs in which he posed in front of historic sites linked to the US South during times of slavery, sometimes wearing a jacket with the flags of apartheid-era South Africa and Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Many of the images were posted in a hate-filled online manifesto that included racist language directed at African Americans and other minorities. Roof chuckled during his confession, saying he hadn`t gone to another church "because there could be white people there." The gunman said he became inspired after reading about a Florida neighborhood watchman`s 2012 killing of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, a case that sparked widespread protests. "After I read that, I typed in -- for some reason I typed in black on white crime," Roof said. "I had to do it, because somebody had to do something because black people are killing white people every day."The trial featured gripping, heartrending testimony from survivors of the shooting at the church -- the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the southern US, dating back to the late 1700s when a handful of slaves gathered to worship with free African Americans. One survivor had lain in a pool of her son and her aunt`s blood, cradling her granddaughter as the massacre unfolded. The young girl also lived. Felicia Sanders called Roof "evil" and said "there`s no place on Earth for him except the pit of hell." Roof`s mother had a heart attack duPring the emotional testimony and had to be hospitalized. Roof`s lawyers called no witnesses, resting their case after failing to persuade the judge to allow two mental health experts to testify on behalf of the defendant. After the jury was dismissed, Roof calmly told Judge Richard Gergel that he still wishes to represent himself during the sentencing phase. Gergel cautioned against that, telling the young man that his lawyers "zealously defended you." "It`s important to appreciate the gravity of the situation," he said. Other charges against Roof included hate crimes resulting in an attempt to kill; obstruction of exercise of religion resulting in death or an attempt to kill; and assorted firearms charges with the intent to commit murder or a violent crime. Roof is also facing state murder charges in South Carolina, though that trial is not due to begin until January 17. State prosecutors also are seeking the death penalty. (AFP)

US church shooter found guilty of hate crime, could face death penalty