A federal judge has ruled that confessed mass murderer Dylann Storm Roof can represent himself in his federal trial on murder and hate crime charges.
U.S. district court judge Richard M. Gergel informed Roof that such a move was “strategically unwise,” but found that the confessed perpetrator of the 2015 Holy City Massacre “has the personal capacity to self-representation.”
“It is a decision you have the right to make,” Gergel told the 22-year-old white supremacist, who has admitted to murdering nine black parishioners – including S.C. Senator Clementa Pinckney – at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C.
As we have previously noted, we do not approve of the federal government injecting itself into this case. Roof is already facing nine counts of murder and one weapons charge at the state level in connection with the massacre.
It would be one thing if the federal government were stepping in to right an egregious wrong – i.e. the miscarriage of justice at the state level – but that’s not what is happening here. This is a totally unnecessary usurpation of South Carolina’s sovereignty.
From a recent post regarding all of this …
Crime is crime. Murder is murder. And yes … hate is hate. And the last time we checked, some level of hate was necessary for the commission of any crime … especially a crime which involves taking the life of another human being.
Roof has confessed to these savage murders. He’s also acknowledged his racist motive in committing them. He’s been captured on video entering (and presumably leaving) the church at the time of the attack. Also, survivors from the attack will no doubt positively identify him as the perpetrator of the crime.
In other words, this is an open and shut case. And when it’s all said and done, Roof is likely to receive the death penalty for committing this crime … as he should.
Unfortunately, the federal government has chosen to preempt South Carolina’s authority (and waste our tax dollars) in pursuit of a politically correct “teachable moment” in this case – which is ironic considering it was the feds who dropped the ball and allowed Roof to purchase the gun used during the commission of these savage slayings.
Now they are the ones who are going to oversee his capital punishment?
Sheesh …
Roof clearly committed this crime. And in our mind he clearly deserves to die for it. But such a determination should be left to the state – specifically S.C. ninth circuit solicitor Scarlett Wilson and her staff.
Seriously … this isn’t 1950. Present-day South Carolina is more than capable of dispensing fair and even-handed judgment in racially sensitive cases. Especially in increasingly left-leaning Charleston, S.C.
Shame on the federal government for denying the Palmetto State the right to do so.
In fact, our guess is the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s decision to abrogate South Carolina’s sovereignty in this case will wind up fomenting more of the misplaced rage that drove Roof to commit this crime.
And needlessly so!
Again, if South Carolina’s justice system had dropped the ball in Roof’s case – failing to pursue or procure the proper outcome – we would begrudgingly entertain an argument for federal intervention.
But that’s not what is happening. Instead, the federal government is basically saying “we don’t trust you racists to sufficiently exploit this tragedy toward our gun-grabbing, politically correct ends – so we’re taking over!”
That is not only wrong … it is precisely the sort of power play that sets blood needlessly boiling.
(Banner via The Last Rhodesian)