CHARLESTON, S.C. — 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 in June 2015.

Circuit Judge J.C. Nicholson granted a request by Roof’s defense lawyers, who provided documents saying a doctor needed two to six more months to complete psychiatric testing of Roof.

Nicholson moved the trial to Jan. 17, with jury screening to begin in early December. The trial had been scheduled to start on July 11, a date Nicholson had set almost a year earlier.

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

Associated Press