Different trials, different verdicts.
In June 1997, a jury convicted Timothy McVeigh of bombing the Oklahoma City federal building, a terrorist attack that left 168 people dead. But the verdict for McVeigh's former army buddy Terry Nichols -- who was tried on the same 11 accounts -- was less straightforward.
On December 23, a jury, after deliberating 41 hours, refused to convict Nichols of murder, instead finding him guilty of involuntary manslaughter and of conspiring with McVeigh. Nichols escaped the death penalty because the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on whether he was planning an attack "with the intent to kill." Nearly six months later, Nichols was sentenced by a federal judge to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Newsmaker Profiles:
Timothy McVeighNewsmaker Profiles:
Terry NicholsVideo Almanac:
1995 - Oklahoma City bombing
T H E N I C H O L S T R I A L / T H E M c V E I G H T R I A L
T H E B O M B I N G / T H E P L A Y E R S / L I N K S
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