Charleston church shooting: Dylann Roof's murder trial postponed until 2017

A South Carolina judge on Wednesday delayed until next year the state death-penalty trial of Dylann Roof, who is charged with killing nine black parishioners at a Charleston church last June.

The judge granted a request by Roof's defence lawyers, who provided documents saying a doctor needed two to six more months to complete psychiatric testing. No other details were mentioned at the hearing, and the judge sealed the release of any information about Roof's medical records.

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The judge moved the trial to Jan. 17. The trial had been scheduled to start on July 11.

Attorney Andy Savage, who represents some of the family members, said he wasn't surprised by the delay and that most of the family members seem to understand the need for it.

"They want a fair trial because they don't want to have to come back and do this again in a year or two or five or six," he said.

Roof also faces numerous counts, including hate crimes, in federal court. Federal prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty, and no date for that trial has been set.

In an earlier filing in federal court, state prosecutor Scarlett Wilson said she would prefer that the state case be held first.