Lane to Prosecute Nichols

KTOK | JOB

[job]

Wes Lane to prosecute Nichols....

[Catspaw]

Wes Lane to prosecute Nichols....

Wow. He kept wavering between prosecuting him and not prosecuting him that I was really unsure about his decision. If Nichols went back into federal custody, the case was gone forever.

This is going to get very interesting indeed. I wonder how much more will come out at Nichols' trial than the federal trials.

[Dr. Alex Cross]

Thanks, Job.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

They probably won't even allow him a defense. Nothing will come out, the govt can't afford any more facts out.

[job]

But this is going to be state court in Oklahoma County, most likely, although there is some rumour it may get transferred to Lawton (Ft.Sill) or Tulsa. Anyway, state court is so much more "open" than federal court, and generally, much more evidence is allowed in. No doubt this particular trial will be much more tightly circumscribed.

I do look for the defense attorneys to try to point fingers at others, and it will be tough to keep such evidence out.

[OldFriend]

Anyone know how the families feel about this second trial?

[MizSterious]

I believe you are right about state court being more open than federal. Let's hope and pray this is the case here. I, too, had my doubts about Lane trying Nichols, but once it was announced that he was going to reveal his decision under the Survivors' Tree, I didn't think he would choose otherwise. Perhaps now we can start to lift the lid off this matter, and the truth will begin to come out.

[MizSterious]

I believe it is in large part because of the meethings Lane held with the families that he finally reached this decision. The majority of the victims and their families wanted this case tried here.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

In my understanding, a lot of people were worried that if Nichols wasn't tried on state charges, he might have his chance with his federal appeals to get his conviction overturned. I heard that Nichols' attorneys told prosecutors that if they didn't seek a state trial, then they would drop the federal appeals. Did I hear this right, and if so, why would Wes Lane continue with this?

[Catspaw]

I, too, had my doubts about Lane trying Nichols, but once it was announced that he was going to reveal his decision under the Survivors' Tree

One of my office pals said, "You had any doubt? If he was not going to be tried, the DA would have had the press conference at his office."

Perhaps now they can set a trial date, and as my Dear Departed Dad would say, "Let's get this show on the road."

[job]

Most people in OKC interviewed on OKC wanted Nichols tried, regardless of the cost. It was pretty surprising that here in OK a lot of people were arguing against a state trial because of the cost. However, Janie Coverdale who lost two baby grandsons correctly stated that cost should play no part in bringing to justice. Just so everyone knows, the federal trial was for violation of federal law for killing federal agents which was 8 counts of murder, while the state trial will be for the remaining 160 employees, customers, and applicants.

I personally do not think Nichols has a death wish like McVeigh. He has kind of gotten a free ride so far, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to a real threat of execution.

[Alas]

Anyone know how the families feel about this second trial?

Would seem they too would like to see the truth come out. And if that means two trials, three trials or whatever, I would think that whatever it took is what they would put up with.

Nukem

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for the announcement!

[MizSterious]

Wes Lane was kind of between a rock and a hard place. Once he held the meetings with the survivors and the families of the victims, sentiment was overwhelmingly for trying Nichols in OK. If he didn't, his job would have been on the line. If he does try Nichols (and now we know he will), there will be the usual complaints about the cost and the resources. There is also some flack getting ready to hit the fan about the police chemist, Joyce Gilchrist that might splatter more folks than just Gilchrist--not sure how that will play in all this, but they did mention they won't have enough money to try some cases that are coming up because of the expense of the Nichols trial.

[MizSterious]

LOL--that was my take, too, only I thought that if he decided no, he'd just issue a statement, no press conference at all.

[Catspaw]

LOL--that was my take, too, only I thought that if he decided no, he'd just issue a statement, no press conference at all.

Well, I could not believe I had missed it....I usually figure I'm pretty doggone sharp :-))

Perhaps I needed MORE coffee, not less.

[OldFriend]

I heard the same statement.....all appeals dropped if there is no trial. Of course, he stands to get the death penalty if he is convicted in Oklahoma. The media just had a woman on who thought it was a terrible idea to bring all the horror back. Of course, we now know the media position on this since they just presented one side.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Hope you are right. I would like to see the dirt come out in old home town (Tulsa).

[PhiKapMom]

The reason given for the trial by Irvin Box, the Channel 9 legal analyst in OKC, was that these attorneys could say no appeal but if something new came to light (and who knows with this FBI), he could still appeal and perhaps walk. Not to mention his attorneys sent a letter to the editor of the Tulsa World not the DA saying no appeals! IMO not very professional!

[PhiKapMom]

Give me a break! His defense attorneys have already been paid over a million dollars right now. The State of OK is going to have to come up with $4 or 5 million to try this case and a large portion going to defense attornyes!