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Biden Fails a Death Penalty Abolitionist’s Most Important Test

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The mystery of Joe Biden’s views about capital punishment has finally been solved. His decision to grant clemency to 37 of the 40 people on federal death row shows the depth of his opposition to the death penalty. And his decision to leave three of America’s most notorious killers to be executed by a future administration shows the limits of his abolitionist commitment. The three men excluded from Biden’s mass clemency—Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers—would no doubt pose a severe test of anyone’s resolve to end the death penalty. Biden failed that test.
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Dylann Roof: Charleston shooter won't offer evidence to spare life

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Dylann Roof
Dylann Roof
A white supremacist who killed nine black worshippers in a church in South Carolina will offer no evidence to spare his own life at a hearing.

Dylann Roof told a judge he plans on calling no witnesses when jurors decide next week decide whether he will face life in prison or the death penalty.

Roof, 22, was found guilty on 33 counts, including federal hate crimes, earlier this month.

His 2015 attack, carried out during a Bible study session, shocked the US.

Among his victims were pastors, recent graduates, librarians and coaches.

Roof later told police he wanted to start a race war with his attack on the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Charleston, and he was photographed holding the Civil War battle flag, which to many is a symbol of hate.

He is acting as his own lawyer in the final stage of his trial, after dismissing his defence team.

But District Judge Richard Gergel advised Roof to talk to his grandfather, who is a lawyer, and other family members one last time before the trial begins.

Judge Gergel added Roof can change his mind and bring back his attorneys up until opening statements next week.

Serial killer Ted Bundy, Washington-area sniper John Allen Muhammed and Fort Hood attacker Nidal Hasan also acted as their own lawyers, but ended up with death sentences.

According to the Post and Courier, the prosecution has a list of more than 30 possible witnesses to present.

Source: BBC News, december 28, 2016

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Location: Charleston, SC, USA
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