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World News

Charleston church shooting suspect in court

Dylann Roof, 21, faces charges for allegedly killing and attempting to kill African-American parishioners at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17.

State Senator and church pastor Revd Clementa Pinckney was one of nine people who died.

- Gunman entered church on evening of June 17
- Nine people died, including the pastor
- Gunman went on the run before being caught
- Police said it was a hate crime.

Depayne Middleton-Doctor, 49, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45, Daniel Simmons Sr., 74, Cynthia Hurd, 54, Tywanza Sanders, 26, Myra Thompson, 59, Ethel Lance, 70 and Susie Jackson, 87 also died.

Mr Roof is accused of 33 counts, including nine counts of murder and three attempted murders under hate law which outlaws violence on the basis of race or colour.

In the aftermath of the shooting hundreds of flowers were left outside the church and several memorial services took place across America.

At a previous hearing for the 21-year-old, the daughter of victim Ethel Lance said: "You took something really precious away from me, I will never talk to her again, never hold her again, but I forgive you.

"You hurt me, you hurt a lot of people but God forgives you and I forgive you."

Dylann Roof will go on full trial for the killings in July next year.

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church is one of the most famous black majority churches in America.

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