The racist white shooter who killed nine people in an attack on a South Carolina church has pleaded not guilty to all 33 charges against him.

Appearing in court for the first time, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bristow Marchant asked Roof for his plea. His lawyer said they planned to plead guilty, but would not do so until they know whether the prosecution would push for the death penalty or not.

The prosecution has yet to decide, so a plea of not guilty was taken down for Roof.

Last month, Dylan Roof was indicted by a grand jury, to stand trial on 33 charges. The grand jury’s indictment charged Roof with 33 counts, including federal hate crime and firearms charges.

On June 17 this year, A young white gunman opened fire on an African American church in South Carolina in an apparent hate crime, killing nine congregants.

The incident occurred at the Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in Charleston, South Carolina. The shooter was a 21 year old white male, described as ‘slender and clean shaven’, who was later identified as Roof.

He entered the church whilst bible studies were going on, just indiscriminately opening fire on those inside. Eight people died on the spot, whilst the ninth victim expired later on.