DATE=  9/29/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220551

TITLE=BOMB TRIAL (S-O)

BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS

DATELINE=LOS ANGELES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



*INTRO:   THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS HAS BEGUN IN DENVER'S 

FEDERAL COURT BUILDING FOR THE TRIAL OF TERRY NICHOLS, WHO IS 

ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH CONVICTED BOMBER TIMOTHY MCVEIGH TO 

BOMB THE OKLAHOMA CITY FEDERAL BUILDING IN APRIL, 1995.  AS 

V-O-A'S GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM OUR WEST COAST BUREAU, THE TRIAL

COULD LAST LONGER THAN THE MCVEIGH TRIAL.



TEXT:    THE PROCEEDING GOT UNDERWAY MONDAY MORNING WITH JUDGE 

RICHARD MATSCH EXPLAINING THE TRIAL PROCESS TO POTENTIAL JURORS. 

TERRY NICHOLS' LEAD ATTORNEY, MICHAEL TIGAR, HAD REQUESTED THAT 

THE TRIAL BE MOVED TO ANOTHER CITY, BUT JUDGE MATSCH DENIED THAT 

MOTION.



THE DEFENSE TEAM PLANS TO PORTRAY MR NICHOLS AS A MAN WHO WAS 

USED BY HIS FORMER FRIEND, TIMOTHY MCVEIGH.  PROSECUTORS WILL TRY

TO PORTRAY HIM AS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE BOMBING 

CONSPIRACY.



THE EVIDENCE AGAINST MR NICHOLS IS NOT AS OVERWHELMING AS IT WAS 

AGAINST TIMOTHY MCVEIGH AND THE DEFENSE IS EXPECTED TO PRESENT A 

NUMBER OF WITNESSES TO COUNTER THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE.  IF SO, THE

NICHOLS TRIAL COULD BE LONGER AND MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE 

MCVEIGH TRIAL. (SIGNED)



NEB/GF/GKT/WFR



29-Sep-97 12:43 PM EDT (1643 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

.