DATE= 11/2/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222041
TITLE=NICHOLS TRIAL
BYLINE=RICK SALINGER
DATELINE=DENVER
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE SECOND DEFENDANT IN THE 1995 BOMBING OF THE OKLAHOMA
CITY FEDERAL BUILDING, GOES ON TRIAL MONDAY IN DENVER. RICK
SALINGER REPORTS FROM DENVER.
TEXT: ONE-HUNDRED-SIXTY-EIGHT PEOPLE DIED IN THE MOST
DEVASTATING ACT OF TERRORISM ON U-S SOIL. THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS
RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH TWO MEN.
TIMOTHY MCVEIGH HAS BEEN CONVICTED AND IS APPEALING HIS DEATH
SENTENCE. NOW IT IS CO-DEFENDENT TERRY NICHOLS' TURN TO FACE A
JURY.
THE LEAD PROSECUTOR IS LARRY MACKEY.
/// MACKEY ACT ///
WE ARE QUITE SATISFIED THAT WE ENDED UP WITH A JURY THAT
WILL HEAR BOTH SIDES WITH A FAIR AND OPEN MIND.
/// END MACKEY ACT ///
THE GOVERNMENT CASE IS EXPECTED TO SHOW MR. NICHOLS HARBORED
LONG-TERM ANTI-GOVERNMENT BELIEFS, THAT BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS
LIKE AMMONIUM-NITRATE FERTILIZER AND BLASTING CAPS WERE FOUND IN
HIS HOME, AND HE LIED TO THE F-B-I WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH MCVEIGH.
MR. NICHOLS PROVIDED MORE THAN NINE-HOURS OF STATEMENTS TO
FEDERAL AGENTS AT THE HARRINGTON, KANSAS, POLICE DEPARTMENT
TWO-DAYS AFTER THE BOMBING. THOSE STATEMENTS COULD NOT BE USED
AGAINST MCVEIGH, BUT NOW THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE USED PROMINENTLY
BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DEFENSE IN THE NICHOLS CASE. THAT
IS THE MAIN REASON JUDGE RICHARD MATSCH ORDERED SEPARATE TRIALS.
THE DEFENSE IS EXPECTED TO EMPHASIZE MR. NICHOLS ROLE AS A FAMILY
MAN. IT WILL CLAIM THE BOMBING WAS MCVEIGH'S PLOT TO REVENGE THE
FEDERAL ASSAULT ON THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN COMPOUND THAT KILLED MORE
THAN 80 PEOPLE TWO-YEARS EARLIER IN WACO, TEXAS.
MR. NICHOLS' ATTORNEY, MICHAEL TIGAR, IS ALSO EXPECTED TO
RE-EMPHASIZE THE CONSISTENT THEME THE DEFENDANT WAS NOT IN
OKLAHOMA CITY APRIL 19TH, 1995 WHEN THE BOMB EXPLODED.
/// TIGAR ACT ///
MR. NICHOLS FEELS VERY GOOD ABOUT THIS PROCESS AND WE
ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO OPEN TO THIS JURY MONDAY
MORNING. SO THAT IS WHEN YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT THE CASE.
/// END TIGAR ACT ///
THE JURORS COME FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS. THERE ARE
TWO NURSES, TWO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, AND A GEOPHYSICIST AMONG
THEM.
MANY FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE BOMBING VICTIMS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
PRESENT AT THE TRIAL. MARCIA KITE LOST HER DAUGHTER, FRANKIE
MERRIL.
/// KITE ACT ///
MY DAUGHTER'S, WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 26TH, BIRTHDAY WAS
LAST WEEK. IT THINK THE HOLIDAYS ARE GOING TO MAKE IT
TOUGH ON EVERYBODY. AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE HERE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
/// END KITE ACT ///
FOR TWO-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS TERRY NICHOLS HAS BEEN BEHIND BARS.
THIS TRIAL WILL DETERMINE IF HIS FUTURE IS FREEDOM, PRISON, OR
LIKE TIMOTHY MCVEIGH A PENALTY OF DEATH. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
02-Nov-97 2:08 PM EST (1908 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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