Charleston church shooter pleads 'not guilty'

Dylann Roof (R), 21, listens to proceeding with assistant defense attorney William Maguire. Photo / Getty Images

A white supremacist has pleaded not guilty to hate crime charges over the massacre of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina.

Dylann Roof, 21, was in shackles when he appeared in court in Charleston six weeks after the shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Church on June 17.

His lawyer David Bruck said Roof was ready to plead guilty but prosecutors have yet to declare if they will seek the death penalty.

He said: "Mr Roof has told us that he wishes to plead guilty. (But) until we know whether the government will be seeking the death penalty, we are not able to advise Mr Roof."

Federal magistrate judge Bristow Marchant entered not guilty pleas.

Marchant also heard briefly from victims' family members.

Leroy Singleton, brother of victim Myra Thompson, said: "We don't hold no ill will. We're going to let the system work it out."

Emanuel's interim pastor Norvel Goff told reporters outside court: "The process has started. This is a long journey, but we are committed to the task to make sure justice is done."

Roof was arrested in North Carolina the day after the mass shooting whose victims included Emanuel's chief pastor.

On a website attributed to him Roof espoused racist views towards African-Americans and posed with firearms and the Confederate battle flag.

Roof is charged with nine murders and three attempted murders under hate crime laws.
The massacre at the church shocked the United States and set off a nationwide conversation about race relations and gun control.