Dylann Roof Sentencing: Prosecution, Defense Rest
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COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– Prosecutors on Monday rested their case against convicted church shooter Dylann Roof.
Roof, who is representing himself, called no witnesses and also rested his case.
As family members told stories of found memories and pain Dylann Roof sat in the courtroom starring forward, showing no feeling or remorse. Before the prosecution rested there case the jury heard from three people who knows Roof’s youngest victim, Tywanza Sanders best.
Tywanza’s sister, Shirrene Goss, talked about how close they were. Shirrene said they were attached at the hip.
“We spent a lot of time together,” Shirrene said.
Goss said she will miss the simple things like him greeting her at their parents house and just talking to him. Goss also talked about Tywanza’s character.
“I think he had a great amount of fearlessness,” Goss said. “His gift to us was loving on us. He was very affectionate in that way.”
Tywanza’s father, Tyrone Sanders gave a very heartfelt testimony. Tyrone talked about their bond as pictures of them were shown.
“We became road dogs,wherever I went, he wanted to ride,” Tyrone said of son Tywanza. “I’ve been missing that. I miss fishing with him, I miss being on the road with me, and I miss the debates we used to have.”
Tywanza’s mother Felicia, who survived the shooting, told the jury about poems her son wrote to her.
One from Christmas, Tywanza wrote that their family will be on TV one day.
“I just didn’t know we were going to be on tv like this,” Felicia said fighting back tears.
Felicia also talked about the future she saw for her son.
“I was looking forward to seeing him have kids,” Sanders said about Tywanza. “He wanted to be an entertainment attorney.”
The government called 25 of the 38 witnesses they had planned after the judge urged them to shorten their list to prevent the trial from running long.
Tuesday a jury will be charged and they will decide if Roof gets the death penalty or life in prison without parole for his crimes.
ABC Columbia’s Alexis Frazier was in court and has the details.
