Feds move to have their psychiatric expert examine Dylann Roof

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to allow their psychiatric experts to examine accused Charleston race killer Dylann Roof.

U.S. Judge Richard Gergel is expected to approve the request. Already, Roof’s defense team has served notice it intends to introduce expert evidence relating to Roof’s mental condition, if the upcoming trial moves into a death penalty phase.

Issues such as whether Roof, 22, of Columbia, knew right from wrong at the time of the killings last June of nine African-Americans during their Bible study at Charleston’s “Mother” Emanuel AME church are likely subjects of the psychiatric examinations by both sides in the case.

The federal trial is expected to start Nov. 7 in Charleston. Roof’s state trial on murder charges is slated to start in January, also in Charleston. State prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty.

John Monk

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 7:50 AM with the headline "Feds move to have their psychiatric expert examine Dylann Roof."