DATE=12/23/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-224484

TITLE=BOMBING TRIAL VERDICT (L ONLY)

BYLINE=LEE FRANK

DATELINE=DENVER

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  A FEDERAL COURT JURY HAS RETURNED ITS VERDICT AGAINST THE

MAN ACCUSED OF HELPING PLAN THE APRIL 1995 BOMBING OF THE FEDERAL

BUILDING IN OKLAHOMA CITY.  LEE FRANK REPORTS FROM DENVER.



TEXT:  IT WAS A MIXED VERDICT FOR TERRY NICHOLS AS THE JURY FOUND

HIM GUILTY ON ONE MAJOR CHARGE OF CONSPIRING TO USE A WEAPON OF 

MASS DESTRUCTION, BUT CHOSE A REDUCED CHARGE OF INVOLUNTARY 

MANSLAUGHTER INSTEAD OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER.



NICHOLS, WHO IS 42-YEARS OLD, DID  NOT .TESTIFY AT HIS TRIAL AND 

COULD STILL BE SENTENCED TO DEATH OR LIFE IN PRISON WITH  NO 

CHANCE OF RELEASE.  THE JURY THAT SPENT 41-HOURS DELIBERATING THE

CHARGES WILL RETURN TO DECIDE THE PUNISHMENT.



DENVER ATTORNEY ANDREW COHEN HAS COVERED THE NICHOLS TRIAL AND 

SAYS THE VERDICT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN 

COURT.



                        /// COHEN ACT ///



            A FAIR READING OF THE EVIDENCE COULD LEAD THESE 

            JURORS TO BELIEVE THAT TERRY NICHOLS WAS SOMEHOW 

            INVOLVED WITH TIMOTHY MCVEIGH IN THE CONSPIRACY BUT 

            THAT HE DIDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT MCVEIGH WOULD DO

            WITH THESE BOMB COMPONENTS, THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT 

            HE WOULD KILL THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.  AND I

            THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN THAT CONTEXT, IT SORT OF 

            MAKES SENSE.



                         /// END ACT ///



TIMOTHY MCVEIGH -- THE MAN PROSECUTORS CONSIDERED TO BE THE 

MASTERMIND OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMB ATTACK WAS FOUND GUILTY ON 

ALL CHARGES AND SENTENCED TO DEATH LAST SUMMER. HE IS APPEALING 

THE VERDICT.



SOME RELATIVES OF THE 168 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE BOMBING HOLD TERRY

NICHOLS EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE DESPITE THE JURY DECISION. 



MARSHA KIGHT'S DAUGHTER WAS AMONG THE VICTIMS. SHE SAYS PEOPLE 

SUCH AS HER ARE  NOT  SATISFIED WITH A LESS THAN FULLY GUILTY 

VERDICT. 



                        /// KIGHT ACT ///



         I AM SURE THEIR HEARTS HURT.  I THINK IT WAS A SLAP IN 

         THE FACE OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC,  NOT  JUST THE PEOPLE 

         OF OKLAHOMA CITY.



                         /// END ACT ///



TERRY NICHOLS COULD STILL FACE STATE MURDER CHARGES IN OKLAHOMA 

AFTER HIS FEDERAL COURT TRIAL ENDS.  THE JURY THAT CONVICTED HIM 

IS DUE BACK IN COURT ON MONDAY TO BEGIN DECIDING IF HE SHOULD 

SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON OR BE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR

HIS ROLE IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING.  (SIGNED)



NEB/LF/KL



23-Dec-97 11:38 PM EST (0438 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

.