Meek was not called to testify at his childhood friend’s trial. Roof was sentenced to death in January after being convicted of 33 charges, including hate crimes and obstruction of religion resulting in death.
The government argued law enforcement could have tried to prevent Roof’s attack had Meek alerted them.
Meek’s lawyer Deborah Barbier said in court papers that her client, who had a ninth-grade education and history of mental health and substance abuse problems, should not be treated as though he was guilty of Roof’s crimes.
Gergel, who oversaw Roof’s trial, said Meek’s criminal behavior did not begin until after the shooting.
With about a dozen members of the victims’ families in court, Meek read a statement expressing his remorse for not taking Roof more seriously.
“I didn’t believe he could do something so awful and cruel,” he said.
