DATE=6/4/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233397 TITLE= NICHOLS SENTENCED (S) BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND DATELINE= CHICAGO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: ONE OF THE MEN CONVICTED OF PLANNING THE WORST TERRORIST ATTACK ON U-S SOIL HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. TERRY NICHOLS WAS SENTENCED (THURSDAY) IN THE WESTERN U-S CITY OF DENVER FOR HIS ROLE IN THE BOMBING OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY FEDERAL BUILDING IN 1995. MORE FROM V-O-A'S MICHAEL LELAND. TEXT: FEDERAL JUDGE RICHARD MATSCH HAS SENTENCED TERRY NICHOLS TO LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. THE SENTENCE CAME AT THE END OF SEVERAL HOURS OF TESTIMONY FROM DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION LAWYERS, AS WELL AS TESTIMONY FROM SOME OF THE SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS FAMILY MEMBERS FROM OKLAHOMA CITY. JUDGE MATSCH ALSO ORDERED NICHOLS TO PAY MORE THAN 14-MILLION DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION FOR HIS ROLE IN THE ATTACK. NICHOLS WAS CONVICTED LAST DECEMBER OF INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND CONSPIRACY FOR HIS ROLE IN HELPING TIMOTHY MCVEIGH PLAN THE FEDERAL BUILDING BOMBING, WHICH LEFT 168 PEOPLE DEAD AND 500 INJURED. HE WAS ACQUITTED OF MURDER AND WEAPONS CHARGES. AT THE BEGINNING OF THURSDAY'S COURT PROCEEDINGS, NICHOLS LAWYERS ASKED FOR A NEW TRIAL ON THE CHARGES. THEY CITED EVIDENCE THAT JURORS DELIBERATED IN SMALL GROUPS RATHER THAN AS A WHOLE. THE JUDGE GAVE PROSECUTORS A WEEK TO RESPOND TO THE REQUEST. (SIGNED) NEB/MJL/PT 04-Jun-98 6:45 PM EDT (2245 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .