BBC Online :
The man suspected of shooting dead nine people at an African-American church in Charleston should face the death penalty if convicted, South Carolina’s governor has said. “We will absolutely want him to have the death penalty,” Nikki Haley told NBC television. Suspect Dylann Roof, 21, is due to
make his first court appearance on Friday. He was arrested on Thursday more than 200 miles away in North Carolina and flown back to South Carolina. Police are treating the killings at the Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday evening as a hate crime. Prayer vigils have been held in churches in Charleston and across the US for the six women and three men who died.
At the vigil for victim Sharonda Singleton, her teenage children told the BBC they had forgiven her killer and wanted to focus on moving on in a positive way.
Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Media caption “We already forgive him for what he’s done. There is nothing but love from our side of the family” – Chris Singleton, son of victim Sharonda Singleton
“We already forgive him for what he’s done,” said her son, Chris. “And there’s nothing but love from our side of the family. Love is stronger than hate.” Churches in Charleston were full to overflowing on Thursday evening as prayer services were held. Some services were held outdoors. Hundreds gathered outside the Emanuel AME Church to pay tribute.
Governor Haley told NBC’s Today show that South Carolina had been “hurt” by the deaths of nine innocent people. She said she wanted the suspect tried on state charges in South Carolina rather than federal charges.
Mr Roof is due to appear in court via video link for a bail hearing on Friday. He is being held at a detention centre in the Charleston area, the county sheriff’s office said.
He was detained on Thursday after police acting on a tip-off stopped his car in Shelby, North Carolina. Police had earlier released CCTV images of the suspect and the dark saloon car he had driven away in.
Mr Roof’s social media presence suggests he was interested in white supremacy. His Facebook profile page shows a picture of him wearing a jacket with flag-patches from apartheid-era South Africa and Rhodesia – the name of Zimbabwe during the era of white minority rule. He also had a Confederate flag plate on his car.
The man suspected of shooting dead nine people at an African-American church in Charleston should face the death penalty if convicted, South Carolina’s governor has said. “We will absolutely want him to have the death penalty,” Nikki Haley told NBC television. Suspect Dylann Roof, 21, is due to
make his first court appearance on Friday. He was arrested on Thursday more than 200 miles away in North Carolina and flown back to South Carolina. Police are treating the killings at the Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday evening as a hate crime. Prayer vigils have been held in churches in Charleston and across the US for the six women and three men who died.
At the vigil for victim Sharonda Singleton, her teenage children told the BBC they had forgiven her killer and wanted to focus on moving on in a positive way.
Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Media caption “We already forgive him for what he’s done. There is nothing but love from our side of the family” – Chris Singleton, son of victim Sharonda Singleton
“We already forgive him for what he’s done,” said her son, Chris. “And there’s nothing but love from our side of the family. Love is stronger than hate.” Churches in Charleston were full to overflowing on Thursday evening as prayer services were held. Some services were held outdoors. Hundreds gathered outside the Emanuel AME Church to pay tribute.
Governor Haley told NBC’s Today show that South Carolina had been “hurt” by the deaths of nine innocent people. She said she wanted the suspect tried on state charges in South Carolina rather than federal charges.
Mr Roof is due to appear in court via video link for a bail hearing on Friday. He is being held at a detention centre in the Charleston area, the county sheriff’s office said.
He was detained on Thursday after police acting on a tip-off stopped his car in Shelby, North Carolina. Police had earlier released CCTV images of the suspect and the dark saloon car he had driven away in.
Mr Roof’s social media presence suggests he was interested in white supremacy. His Facebook profile page shows a picture of him wearing a jacket with flag-patches from apartheid-era South Africa and Rhodesia – the name of Zimbabwe during the era of white minority rule. He also had a Confederate flag plate on his car.
