Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/566486
ByMegKinnard The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. The white man accused of killing nine black churchgoers in what authorities said was a ra- cially motivated crime dur- ing Bible study will face a death penalty trial, even though not all the victims' families agree with capital punishment, a prosecutor said Thursday. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said Thursday that some crimes are just so heinous they require the most se- rious pun- ishment the state can give. "This was the ultimate crime, and justice from our state calls for the ultimate pun- ishment," Wilson said, read- ingathree-minutestatement outsideherCharlestonoffice. She took no questions. Wilson filed paperwork saying she would seek the deathpenaltyagainst21-year- old Dylann Roof a few hours before her statement. Her reasons: more than two peo- ple were killed and others' lives were put at risk. Roof is charged under U.S. hate crime laws as well, and federal prosecutors haven't decided if they will also seek the death penalty. Federal authorities have said Roof wrote online of fo- menting racial violence and used racial slurs in a per- sonal manuscript in which he decried integration. Survivors also told police he used racial insults dur- ing the attack. Wilson said she under- stands the desire of some victims' families to forgive Roof and that some do not believe in the death pen- alty, but she said forgive- ness doesn't eliminate the consequences of Roof's ac- tions. "Making such a weighty decision is an awesome re- sponsibility," Wilson said. "People who have already been victimized should not bear the burden of making the decisions on behalf of an entire community. They shouldn't have to weigh the concerns of other people. They shouldn't have to con- sider the facts of the case." But Thursday's motion doesn't guarantee the case goes to trial. In a number of other murder cases in South Carolina, solicitors have filed notices to seek the death penalty and used them as bargaining chips to get a defendant to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison. Roof's lawyers said in federal court July 31 that he would have been will- ing to plead guilty to the hate crimes charges, but he wanted to wait to see if prosecutors would want to put him to death. Roof faces state charges including nine murder counts in the June 17 slay- ings at Emanuel Afri- can Methodist Episcopal Church. He is expected in court again on those charges in October. SOUTH CAROLINA Sh oo ti ng s us pe ct t o fa ce death penalty, says official Roof By Adam Beam The Associated Press ASHLAND, KY. A defiant county clerk went to jail Thursday for refusing to is- sue marriage licenses to gay couples, but five of her dep- uties agreed to issue the li- censes themselves, poten- tially ending the church- state standoff in Rowan County, Kentucky. U.S. District Judge Da- vid Bunning said he had no choice but to jail Kim Davis for contempt after she in- sisted that her "conscience will not allow" her to follow federal court rulings on gay marriage. "God's moral law con- flicts with my job duties," Davis told the judge before she was taken away by a U.S. marshal. "You can't be separated from something that's in your heart and in your soul." Bunning offered to re- lease Davis if she would promise not to interfere with her employees issu- ing marriage licenses on Friday morning. But Davis, through her attorneys, re- jected that offer and chose to stay in jail. Gay and lesbian cou- ples vowed to appear at the Rowan County clerk's office for the fifth time on Friday to see if the deputy clerks would keep their promises. "We're going to the court- house tomorrow to get our marriage license and we're very excited about that," said April Miller, who has beenengagedtoKarenRob- erts for 11 years. As word of Davis' jailing spread outside the federal courthouse,hundredsofpeo- ple chanted and screamed, "Love wins!" while Davis' supporters booed. Davis'lawyer,RogerGan- nam, said it was the first time in history an Ameri- can citizen has been jailed for believing that marriage isaunionbetweenoneman and one woman. He com- paredherwillingnesstoac- cept imprisonment to what Martin Luther King Jr. did to advance civil rights. "Kim Davis represents the best of us and everyone should lament and mourn the fact that her freedom has been taken away for what she believes," Gan- nam said. LauraLandenwich,anat- torney for the plaintiffs, re- jected the comparison. "Ms. Davis is in an unfor- tunate situation of her own creation. She is not a mar- tyr. No one created a mar- tyrtoday,"Landenwichsaid, adding "she holds the keys to her jail cell." Speaking earlier from the bench, Bunning said it would set up a "slippery slope" to allow an individ- ual's ideas to supersede the courts' authority. "Her good faith belief is simply not a viable defense," Bunningsaid."Imyselfhave genuinely held religious be- liefs ... but I took an oath." "Mrs. Davis took an oath," he added. "Oaths mean things." Davis is represented by the Liberty Counsel, which advocates in court for reli- gious freedom. Before she was led away, Davis said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay mar- riage nationwide conflicts with the vows she made when she became a born- again Christian. KENTUCKY Clerks to license marriages as boss is jailed TIMOTHYD.EASLEY—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS A protester waives a rainbow flag outside the Carl D. Perkins Federal Building in Ashland, Kentucky. All offers for a limited time. Not all buyers will qualify for individual programs. See Red Bluff Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram for complete details and vehicle qualifications for all currently running programs. 0% and 1.9% APR financing are not applicable on these new selected models. All rebates in lieu of special APRs offered by Chrysler. All prices plus government fees and taxes, any finance charge, any dealer document, preparation charge, and any emission charge. Subject to prior sales & credit approval. Some vehicle images in this ad are for illustration purposes only and may vary from actual vehicle. Ad expires 9/5/15. 545AdobeRd.,RedBluff,CA Se Habla Espanol REDBLUFF Se Habla Espanol RED BLUFF RED BLUFF Se Habla Espanol RED BLUFF RED BLUFF BENNY BROWN'S REDBLUFF ISN'TPLAYING! WE ARE GOING FOR #1 SPOT IN CALIFORNIA 1 VolumeSales Customer Satisfaction 2 WWW.REDBLUFFDODGE.COM PHONE 530-366-3166 WE HAVE THE SELECTON & WE DO NOT GET BEAT ON PRICING. Come on down & see how easy & fun it should be to buy a vehicle. We make it easy & fun! $ 46,777 Stk#42356•Vin#227373 4X4-Leather-NavigationLoaded&Oneheck of a good buy! Price Rental 2015CHEVYTAHOELT 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING Stk# 42352 • Vin# 718063 Low Miles & Clean We take any thing in on trade! Yes we have financial O.C.A. $ 9,777 2012 MILAN ECLIPSE 25 FOOT Travel Trailer - Clean is an under statement We take any thing in on trade! Yes we have financing available O.C.A. $ 16,777 CHOOSE FROM OVER 100 IN STOCK DIESEL 4X4'S - 2015's - 2016's AUTOMATIC - STICKS - DUALLYS - CLOTH LEATHER - WE GOT IT! 2016 DODGE DART SE RALLYE EDITION! 17 Inch 7X5 Inch Custom Aluminum Wheels. Air Cond., Power Windows & Locks - Cruise - Tilt AM-PM CD Player, U-Connect with Voice Command. Towing Suspension & Lots more. Zero Cash down needed at this price! CHOOSE FROM " 20 " MSRP...........................$18,880 Benny's Big Discount.....-$1,603 Factory Rebate ..............-$1,000 Chrysler Finance ..............-$500 $ 15,777 Vin#'S 519370, 516493, 519381, 519276, 519379, 519378, 529689, 519382, 519369, 519374, 519339, 516484, 519373, 519380, 529691, 516492, 519372, 519375, 519377 Mon.–Fri.8am-5pm Saturday by appointment 525 Antelope Blvd, Red Bluff • (530) 527-5272 9-5:30 M-F 910 Main St., Suite C 530.527.2510 gummsoptical.com Labor Day Sale!!! Many Other Brands 20-50% off!!! 20% OFF Maui Jim Sale ends Friday, September 4 AlfalfaHay FOR SALE •Excellant Quality •Fine Stemed •Great for horses goats and sheep South Red Bluff Call Scott 945-9276 $11.00 Bale Ro un d U p Saloon Round Up Saloon 610WashingtonSt. (530) 527-9901 Supporting Farmers Market with live music every Wednesday night | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 6 A