A white man accused of killing nine black people at a Charleston, South Carolina church will be allowed to represent himself at trial, a federal judge has said.
US District Judge Richard Gergel said 22-year-old Dylann Roof’s wish to be his own lawyer was “unwise”, but nevertheless granted his request.
The surprise development came during jury selection on Monday morning.
Last week Mr Roof was deemed competent to stand trial in the shooting of nine Charleston parishioners in June 2015.
A psychiatric review of 22-year-old Dylann Roof was performed after a request from his defence team.
He is accused of killing the nine parishioners during their Bible study class in June 2015.
A jury selection for a federal trial has resumed today.
He sealed his reasons for finding Dylann Roof competent, saying that information could keep him from having a fair trial.
The suspect faces 33 federal charges including hate crime.
He has already been found competent in a state court, where he faces nine counts of murder, and prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty.
The church where the killings took place in Charleston is a nationally known historic black church, and federal prosecutors claim the killings were racially motivated.
After the shootings, photos emerged online of Dylann Roof holding the Confederate battle flag, sparking a backlash against the emblem, which to many is a symbol of slavery.
