The Latest: Defense plans to call witnesses at Roof trial

FILE - In this June 18, 2015 file photo, Charleston, S.C., shooting suspect Dylann Storm Roof is escorted from the Cleveland County Courthouse in Shelby, N.C. Prosecutors who wanted to show that Roof was a cruel, angry racist simply used his own words at his death penalty trial on charges he killed nine black people in June 2015 at a Charleston church. Roof's two-hour videotaped confession less than a day after the shooting and a handwritten journal found in his car when he was arrested were introduced into evidence Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) FILE - In this June 18, 2015 file photo, Charleston, S.C., shooting suspect Dylann Storm Roof is escorted from the Cleveland County Courthouse in Shelby, N.C. Prosecutors who wanted to show that Roof was a cruel, angry racist simply used his own words at his death penalty trial on charges he killed nine black people in June 2015 at a Charleston church. Roof's two-hour videotaped confession less than a day after the shooting and a handwritten journal found in his car when he was arrested were introduced into evidence Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

By Associated Press December 13, 2016 3 min read

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – The Latest on the federal death penalty trial of a man accused of killing nine black people during a South Carolina church Bible study (all times local):

10:15 a.m.

Attorneys for a man accused in the shooting deaths of nine black people during Bible study at a South Carolina church say they do plan to present witnesses after all.

Defense attorney David Bruck said in court Tuesday he does plan to call some witnesses to testify on behalf of Dylann Roof. Bruck had previously said he might not put up much of a case during the first phase of Roof’s trial. He instead indicated he would focus more on the part of the trial where jurors will decide between the death penalty and life in prison if Roof is convicted.

Prosecutors say they plan to finish their case this week. Roof faces 33 federal charges including hate crimes and obstruction of the practice of religion. Jurors began hearing the case against him last week.