Testimony eyed as likely reason for charging Roof's friend
According to an indictment, Joey Meek knew about Roof's plans to shoot black church members during Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal, didn't report it and lied to the FBI after the massacre.
[...] with Roof already in jail facing federal hate crime charges and nine state counts of capital murder, why would there be a case against Meek?
Legal experts say prosecutors likely want to show Roof's alleged acts were premeditated and intentional, which are vital to pursuing a death penalty case.
Authorities say Meek knew more, writing in the indictment that he knowingly lied to an FBI agent when he said "that he did not know specifics of Dylann Roof's plan to shoot individuals on a Wednesday, during Bible Study, at an AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina."
Swerling said Meek can help prosecutors prove Roof's state of mind and help show he carefully planned the shootings — an important part of establishing aggravating circumstances in a capital case.
Pete Strom, a former U.S. attorney now in private practice in South Carolina, said he expects the government to aggressively pursue any potential witness who could shed light on Roof's case, possibly offering a plea deal or sentence recommendation in exchange for cooperation.