Same Judge to Hear Cases of Church Shooting Suspect, Friend
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The same judge will oversee the federal cases against both the white man charged with killing nine black churchgoers and his friend who is accused of lying to authorities.
Court records show that U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel has been assigned to hear the case against 21-year-old Joey Meek.
Meek has pleaded not guilty to lying to law enforcement agents and failing to report what he knew about Dylann Roof's plans.
Roof faces possible death sentences in the state and federal systems over the June 17 shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal.
Authorities say Meek knowingly lied to an FBI agent when he said he didn't know what Roof was planning.
Last week, Meek's attorneys and federal prosecutors filed motions seeking each other's evidence in the case.
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