DATE=3/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247380
TITLE=OKLAHOMA BOMBING CHARGES (L-O)
BYLINE=MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE=CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ONE OF THE TWO MEN CONVICTED OF FEDERAL CHARGES IN THE
BOMBING ATTACK AGAINST THE OKLAHOMA CITY FEDERAL BUILDING HAS
BEEN CHARGED IN STATE COURT. TERRY NICHOLS FACES 160 CHARGES OF
MURDER FOR HIS ROLE IN THE DEADLIEST TERRORIST INCIDENT COMMITTED
ON U-S SOIL. MORE FROM V-O-A'S MICHAEL LELAND.
TEXT: TERRY NICHOLS IS ALREADY SERVING A LIFE PRISON SENTENCE
FOR HIS ROLE IN THE DEATHS OF EIGHT FEDERAL AGENTS IN THE
OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING. NOW HE IS BEING CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE
MURDER BY OKLAHOMA CITY PROSECUTOR BOB MACY FOR THE OTHER 160
DEATHS. IF HE IS CONVICTED, NICHOLS COULD RECEIVE THE DEATH
PENALTY.
NICHOLS WAS CONVICTED OF THE FEDERAL CHARGES IN DECEMBER, 1997.
THE JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF CONSPIRING WITH TIMOTHY MCVEIGH TO
BLOW UP THE BUILDING, AND OF EIGHT COUNTS OF INVOLUNTARY
MANSLAUGHTER. PROSECUTORS HAD ACCUSED NICHOLS OF HELPING
MCVEIGH DELIVER A GETAWAY CAR TO OKLAHOMA CITY THREE DAYS BEFORE
THE BOMBING, AND OF HELPING MCVEIGH PACK THE BOMB INSIDE A TRUCK
ON THE DAY BEFORE.
MCVEIGH RECEIVED A DEATH SENTENCE IN HIS 1997 FEDERAL TRIAL.
OKLAHOMA CITY PROSECUTOR MACY SAYS HE ALSO PLANS TO FILE STATE
CHARGES AGAINST MCVEIGH, BUT WANTS TO SEE HOW HE FARES IN HIS
APPEAL OF THE FEDERAL CONVICTION FIRST. HE SAYS NICHOLS TRIAL IS
NOT LIKELY TO GET UNDERWAY FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.
THE APRIL, 1995 ATTACK AGAINST THE OKLAHOMA CITY FEDERAL BUILDING
LEFT 168 PEOPLE DEAD AND MORE THAN 500 INJURED. PROSECUTORS SAY
THE BOMBING WAS A PLOT AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR ITS
SIEGE OF THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION COMPLEX IN
WACO, TEXAS IN 1993. ABOUT 90 PEOPLE DIED IN A FIRE THAT SWEPT
THROUGH THE COMPLEX ON THE 51ST DAY OF A STANDOFF WITH FEDERAL
AGENTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/JO
29-Mar-99 5:46 PM EST (2246 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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