Terry Nichols

Terry Nichols (born April 1, 1955) is accused of being the accomplice of Timothy McVeigh, an American terrorist in the Oklahoma City bombing (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, April 19, 1995).

Oklahoma state charges

Nichols was returned to Oklahoma in January 2000 to face 160 counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree manslaughter for the death of an unborn child, one count of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of aiding and counseling in the placing of a substance or bomb near a public building. On May 26, 2004 he was found guilty on all charges. It took the 6 man, 6 woman jury 5 hours to produce a verdict. The penalty phase of the trial started on June 1, 2004. After 19½ hours of deliberation over a period of three days, the jury indicated on June 11, the third anniversary of the execution of his co-defendant, Timothy McVeigh, that it was deadlocked over whether Nichols should receive the death penalty. By law, Judge Steven W. Taylor was then required to sentence Nichols to life imprisonment (a term he is already serving), although the judge can decide whether or not he should get parole (this is a technicality since he is already serving life without parole). On August 9, 2004 he was sentenced 161 counts of first-degree murder and that the sentences run consecutively.

Related Topics:
January - 2000 - May 26 - 2004 - June 1 - June 11 - Timothy McVeigh - Steven W. Taylor - August 9

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Charges in Oklahoma arose from a grand jury empaneled to investigate the bombing. After a federal jury refused to return a conviction on charges for which Nichols could be sentenced to die, District Attorney Bob Macy said he would pursue state charges. But Macy declined to file state charges in the matter until the grand jury indicted Nichols. The grand jury returned an indictment in March 1999.

Related Topics:
March - 1999

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Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane has denied the prosecution was conducted solely for the purpose of having Nichols executed, saying it was important Nichols be convicted of killing all 168 victims, even though he did not apparently make the same call for another trial for McVeigh.

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"This case has always been about 161 men, women and children and an unborn baby having the same rights to their day in court as eight federal law enforcement officers," Lane said.

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Citizens of Oklahoma petitioned to empanel the grand jury that investigated the bombing. State representative Charles Key led a citizens group that circulated the petitions in hopes of uncovering evidence implicating other conspirators. The grand jury, directed by Macy, heard testimony about allegations of other accomplices but returned only the indictments against Nichols.

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One author was arrested and charged with jury tampering after he mailed copies of his book to members of the grand jury. The book, The Politics of Terror, outlined evidence supporting several theories of the crime, but offered a conclusion the federal government orchestrated the bombing.

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