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)

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Source: Voice of America

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