COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The man on federal death row for the racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation was wrongly allowed to represent himself during a critical phase of his trial, his attorneys argued Tuesday, saying Dylann Roofs continuing delusional belief hed be saved by white nationalists but only if he kept mental health evidence out of his defense should have shown his trial judge he wasnt competent.

Before a three-judge panel, Roofs attorneys argued that an appellate court should vacate his convictions and death sentence, or remand his case to court for a proper competency evaluation, something they argue wasnt done during his trial in 2017.

That year, Roof became the first person in the U.S. sentenced to death for a federal hate crime. Authorities have said Roof opened fire during the closing prayer of a 2015 Bible study at Charlestons Mother Emanuel AME Church, raining down dozens of bullets on those assembled. He was 21 years old at the time.