Dylann Roof's mother suffers heart attack during trial after hearing graphic details

Jamie Roberton

Former Health and Science Producer

Dylann Roof faces 33 charges and denies them all. Credit: Charleston County Jail

The mother of Dylann Roof suffered a heart attack after hearing graphic details of how her son allegedly carried out the Charleston church massacre.

Roof's mother collapsed and repeatedly said "I'm sorry" on Wednesday at the opening of her son's trial. Her condition is still unknown.

Roof, 22, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, is accused of murdering nine black parishioners in a racially-motivated attack at Mother Emanuel church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17 last year.

The shooting took place at Mother Emanuel church in Charleston Credit: South Carolina Court handout

Victims' families have sobbed and - in some cases - had to leave the courtroom as horrific evidence and heart-rending testimony was heard.

This included:

  • A series of 360-degree images showing the multiple victims lying in pools of blood

  • Testimony from emergency services about the grisly scene that greeted them

  • The revelation that 11 bullets were removed from the oldest victim, 87-year-old Susie Jackson

Dylann Roof is accused of murdering nine black parishioners in a racially-motivated attack Credit: PA Images

Roof showed no emotion during the evidence and refused to look at the screen displaying images of the victims.

News of his mother's heart attack emerged in court documents filed by his defence team on Thursday.

His attorneys unsuccessfully attempted to force a mistrial, arguing that a testimony from one of the survivors of the attack may have influenced the jury to sentence Roof to death.

Dylann Roof's Facebook profile picture Credit: Facebook

Felicia Sanders - who saw her son Tywanza and aunt - Susie Jackson - die in the attack told the jury: “He is evil. There is no place for him except the pit of hell.”

Sanders had earlier described, in vivid detail, how she watched Tywanza "take his last breath".

When Tywanza asked Roof why he was killing people, Sanders claimed he replied: “I have to do this because you’re raping our women, taking over the world.”

Roof then shot her son five times, she said, as tears flowed down her face.

Felicia Sanders survived the attack but lost her 26-year-old son and aunt Credit: Ron Sachs DPA/PA Images

“I watched my son come into this world and I watched my son leave this world," she said.

Roof is facing 33 charges, including hate crimes, murder and attempted murder, and could face the death penalty - he denies all of them.

The trial continues.