Friend of church shooting suspect wants trial in Columbia

CHARLESTON, SC (WIS) - A defendant accused of not telling authorities everything he knew about the plans of a man charged with shooting nine parishioners at a Charleston church wants his federal trial held in Columbia, not in Charleston.

The attorney for 21-year-old Joey Meek wrote U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel on Monday, saying Meek opposes moving the trial to Charleston, where Gergel has indicated it would be easier for families of the shooting victims to attend.

Attorney Deborah Barbier wrote that Meek worries he may not get a fair trial and his family will not be able to attend if it's held in Charleston, about a two-hour drive away.

Prosecutors allege Meek failed to report what he knew about Dylann Roof's plans to shoot parishioners at Emanuel AME Church.

Meek is out on bond.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press and WIS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.