DATE= 12/12/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224046
TITLE=NICHOLS TRIAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICK SALLINGER
DATELINE=DENVER
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE DEFENSE HAS RESTED ITS CASE IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY
BOMBING TRIAL OF TERRY NICHOLS. HE IS ACCUSED OF HAVING A ROLE IN
THE DEATHS OF 168 PEOPLE IN THE APRIL 1995 EXPLOSION AT A UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT BUILDING. RICK SALLINGER REPORTS FROM FEDERAL
COURT IN DENVER.
TEXT: MORE THAN 90 WITNESSES TOOK THE STAND FOR THE DEFENSE, BUT
THE FINAL ONE MAY HAVE BEEN THE RISKIEST. IT WAS MARIFE NICHOLS,
THE PHILIPPINE-BORN WIFE OF THE DEFENDANT. SHE WAS CALLED TO
PROVIDE A FINALE TO THE DEFENSE THEME THAT TERRY NICHOLS WAS
"BUILDING A LIFE, NOT A BOMB." BUT MUCH OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY
MAY HAVE BENEFITED GOVERNMENT PROSECUTORS MORE THAN THE DEFENSE.
SHE REVEALED HER HUSBAND HAD CONCEALED HIS CONTACTS WITH TIMOTHY
MCVEIGH IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE BOMBING. MCVEIGH HAS
ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO DEATH IN THE CASE. MRS.
NICHOLS ALSO TOLD THE COURT HER HUSBAND LIED TO HER WHEN HE SAID
HE WENT TO PICK UP MCVEIGH IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA THREE DAYS BEFORE
THE BOMBING. SHE SAID HE LATER ADMITTED HE WENT TO OKLAHOMA CITY
BUT LIED (TO HER) AT MCVEIGH'S REQUEST.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THE TRIAL DAILY IS JANNIE COVERDALE.
SHE LOST HER TWO GRANDCHILDREN IN THE BOMBING.
////SALLINGER AND COVERDALE ACTUALITY///
DID MARIFE NICHOLS HELP THE GOVERNMENT OR THE DEFENSE IN
YOUR OPINION?"
I THINK SHE HELPED THE GOVERNMENT. MARIFE I THINK TRIED
TO HELP THE DEFENSE, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE DID.
/// END ACT ///
THE ATTORNEYS FOR MR. NICHOLS FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THEIR PROMISE
TO SHOW "TERRY NICHOLS WAS BUILDING A LIFE," BUT HAD A MUCH
TOUGHER TIME PROVING HE WAS NOT ALSO BUILDING A BOMB. THE DEFENSE
TRIED TO PUT THE BLAME ON MCVEIGH AND SUGGESTED PEOPLE OTHER THAN
TERRY NICHOLS WERE INVOLVED WITH HIM. NUMEROUS WITNESSES CLAIMED
TO HAVE SEEN THE UNIDENTIFIED MAN IN THE FBI SKETCH GIVEN THE
NAME OF JOHN DOE#2. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN
THE BOMBING. (OPT) AND OTHER WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW RENTAL
TRUCKS OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT CARRIED THE BOMB AT THE LAKE WHERE
THE PROSECUTION SAYS THE EXPLOSIVES WERE MIXED. (END OPT)
ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER OF A BOMBING VICTIM ATTENDING THE TRIAL IS
RUDY GUZMAN. HIS BROTHER RANDY WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE WHO
WAS KILLED IN THE BOMBING.
/// SALLINGER AND GUZMAN ACTUALITY ///
SALLINGER: YOU CAME HERE TO LEARN ABOUT LED TO YOUR
BROTHER'S DEATH...DO YOU FEEL THAT TERRY NICHOLS WAS
RESPONSIBLE?
GUZMAN: WHAT I'VE SEEN...WHAT I'VE HEARD...YES."
/// END ACT ///
THERE WERE CALLS BY SOME FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE BOMBING VICTIMS
FOR THE DEFENDANT TO TAKE THE WITNESS STAND TO GIVE HIS SIDE OF
THE STORY, BUT IN THE END HE DID NOT. CLOSING ARGUMENTS WILL COME
MONDAY..THEN THE JURY WILL BE ASKED TO DECIDE IF TERRY NICHOLS IS
GUILTY OF THE WORST ACT OF TERRORISM EVER COMMITTED ON U.S. SOIL.
(SIGNED)
NEB/RS/KL
12-Dec-97 2:48 AM EST (0748 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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