Prosecutors: Video links McVeigh to rental of truck used in blast

Camera taped him buying pie just before truck was rented

DENVER (CNN) -- A security camera videotape from a Kansas fast-food restaurant clearly showed Timothy McVeigh buying a pie shortly before a Ryder truck linked to the Oklahoma City bombing was rented from a body shop down the street.

As the tape was played Friday at McVeigh's trial in federal court in Denver, the courtroom fell absolutely silent.

The owner of Elliott's Body Shop in Junction City, Kansas, also identified McVeigh as the man who rented the truck using the name Robert Kling.

Eldon Elliott said a man came into his shop the Saturday morning before the April 19, 1995, bombing and presented a driver's license with the name Robert Kling on it. When asked if that man was in the courtroom, Elliott pointed to McVeigh.

Prosecutors contend that the Ryder truck rented by Kling was loaded with a fertilizer bomb and parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The ensuing explosion killed 168 people.

Security camera tape shows McVeigh in McDonald's

David D'Albini, a former manager of a Junction City McDonald's, played a security camera videotape clearly showing McVeigh in the restaurant shortly before the truck was rented at Elliott's, a mile and half away.

"Right there you see him on the side of the picture there," D'Albini said. "You're going to see the same customer who was at the counter advance toward the camera. There you see him. He checks his watch and then he moves on."

"Can you see what he had in his hand?" prosecutor Joseph Hartzler asked.

"Yeah. It's a pie box," D'Albini said.

Prosecutors allege McVeigh stopped at McDonald's before walking to the body shop to pick up the truck used in the bombing.

McVeigh closely watched the monitor as his picture flashed on the screen. Later, his attorney, Stephen Jones, made a point of confirming McVeigh was the man shown.

Jones is expected to underscore that McVeigh, in the McDonald's, was wearing different clothing than Robert Kling was wearing when he rented the Ryder truck.

Cab records build link between Kling, McVeigh

Prior to D'Albini's testimony, an official with a Junction City cab company testified that her records showed a taxi was dispatched to a shopping plaza near the Dreamland Motel to carry a passenger to the McDonald's.

The prosecution contends McVeigh took a taxi from a shopping plaza near the Dreamland Motel to the McDonald's, then walked over to Elliott's Body Shop.

The owner of Hunan Palace, a Chinese restaurant in Junction City, testified that a man calling himself Kling had ordered moo goo gain pan and egg rolls for delivery to the Dreamland Motel. A clerk at the Dreamland has testified McVeigh stayed in Room 25 from April 14-17, 1995.

The wife of alleged co-conspirator Terry Nichols also testified Friday morning.

Marife Nichols talked about a call her husband got on Easter Sunday, three days before the bombing. She said he left shortly after the call and was gone the rest of the day. According to the prosecutors' timeline, that's when Terry Nichols and McVeigh drove to Oklahoma City to drop off a getaway car.

Related stories:

• Witness says he saw McVeigh in Ryder truck - May 8, 1997
• Witness says rambling, angry letter penned by McVeigh - May 8, 1997
• Weeping prosecutor punctuates testimony at McVeigh trial - May 7, 1997
• Sister says McVeigh predicted 'something big' - May 6, 1997

Sound off on our message boards Tell us what you think! You said it...

© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.