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Judge denies Dylann Roof's request for a delay in trial

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The attorneys for Dylann Roof have filed a motion to delay his trial after a mistrial was declared in the Michael Slager trial Monday.

The judge later denied that request to delay the trial.

Roof is accused of shooting and killing nine people at a Charleston church in 2015.

The motion states the Slager mistrial creates “undue pressure on the jury to compensate for the judicial system’s apparent failure to punish Mr. Slager by imposing a harsher punishment here.”

Opening statements are set to begin Wednesday.

Slager is a former North Charleston police officer charged with shooting Walter Scott in the back.

A jury couldn’t reach a verdict in his case. Scott’s family wants the case retried as soon as possible.

Prosecutors are working on scheduling a new trial after the mistrial was declared.

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