Dylann Roof pleads for court to overturn conviction and death sentence

The Charleston church massacre shooter asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction and death sentence.

TheGrio Staff

May 23, 2017

On Tuesday, Dylann Roof, who was convicted of killing nine black worshippers in a South Carolina church in June of 2015, asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction along with the death sentence that came with it.

Roof had long ago announced his plans to drag out a process of appeals in his case, stating that he was sure that he could prolong the appeals process until white supremacy reigned supreme and his fellow white supremacists overturned his conviction and set him free.

He expects, apparently, to be pardoned and then granted the governorship of South Carolina.

“He has no intention of waiving his appeals because this will give enough time for the world to turn upside down,” defense attorney David Bruck said, according to a court transcript.

Initially, Roof had tried to appeal by arguing that he had not crossed state lines to purchase his weapon and had not left South Carolina for the massacre, though U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said that his use of a telephone, and the fact that the bullets and gun were manufactured in a different state, was ground for the interstate commerce clause necessary to bring a federal case against him.

While there is no timeline for his appeals process, Roof remains in custody on federal death row in Terre Haute, Indiana.