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Witness could tie McVeigh to crucial phone calls
January 4, 1997
Web posted at: 3:00 p.m. EST
DENVER (CNN) -- Newly unsealed documents in the Oklahoma City bombing case reveal that a witness could tie suspect Timothy McVeigh to a phone call made to arrange the rental of the Ryder truck used in the bombing.
But McVeigh's attorneys have filed a motion to suppress portions of a deposition from the witness, Thomas Manning. The lawyers argue that federal prosecutors misled them about Manning's testimony.
U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch ordered testimony and phone records from the case to be made public Friday. The New York Times and The Dallas Morning News had sought greater access to the sealed information.
McVeigh bought car from Manning
Manning, manager of the Firestone tire store in Junction City, Kansas, told authorities he sold McVeigh a 1977 Mercury Marquis for $250 on April 14, 1995. That was five days before a bomb ripped through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring more than 500 others. Authorities believe the car was used in the getaway after the bombing.
The defense is protesting that Manning never mentioned during 11 interviews that McVeigh had left his Firestone store that morning in the time period when the Ryder phone call was made, until a year and a half after the bombing.
"I believe he said something like, 'I'll be back in a couple of minutes," Manning told authorities.
It was during that time, prosecutors contend, that McVeigh called a Ryder rental truck agency and Terry Nichols, also a bombing suspect. According to phone records, the call was made using a phone card under the name of "Daryl Bridges" from a bus station one block away from Manning's Firestone. The card has been tied to McVeigh and Nichols.
Defense questions delay
Stephen Jones, McVeigh's attorney, said Manning's statements in the later interview suggest government officials influenced him.
"We're very concerned about that," he said. "The government should not be allowed to profit by deceit."
Judge Matsch has yet to rule whether Manning will be allowed to testify.
The government maintains that McVeigh rented the Ryder truck on April 17 from Elliott's Body Shop in Junction City, and that he and Nichols built the bomb the next day.
McVeigh is scheduled to go on trial March 31 on charges of terrorism, murder and conspiracy. Nichols is to be tried separately later in the year.
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Related stories:
- McVeigh's trial set to begin March 31 - November 15, 1996
- Oklahoma bombing judge mulls closed-circuit TV admission - November 14, 1996
- Prosecutors in Oklahoma bombing accused of delay tactics - Novmber 13, 1996
- Oklahoma City bombing defendants to be tried separately - October 25, 1996
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