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| S P E C I A L | The Terry Nichols Trial |
Woman says Nichols' eyes are 'hiding something'
October 2, 1997
Web posted at: 5:40 p.m. EDT (2140 GMT)DENVER (CNN) -- A potential juror in the Oklahoma City bombing trial of Terry Nichols was excused Thursday after she said she looked into the defendant's eyes and knew he was "hiding something."
The woman was the 18th candidate questioned in the first week of the trial.
"(Nichols) has a look in his eye that he is hiding something," the woman said. "I wouldn't want to be in a dark alley -- or a light alley -- with him."
She said she first noticed the "look" last month when potential jurors filled out questionnaires in Nichols' presence. Pressed by defense attorney Michael Tigar, the woman said nothing would change her mind about the defendant.
U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch dismissed the woman after about 15 minutes of questioning. Nichols, wearing a blue-striped shirt and blazer, showed no emotion and stared straight ahead as he sat rigidly at the defense table.
He is charged with murder and conspiracy in the April 19, 1995, bombing that killed 168 people and injured hundreds. Timothy McVeigh was convicted in June and sentenced to die for his role in the worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil.
The 19th juror questioned told Matsch he suffers from a hearing problem and narcolepsy, a condition of frequent and uncontrollable desire for sleep. The man said he controls the narcolepsy with medication, but, as a side effect, he sometimes is immobilized when he becomes excited.
Judge chastises defense attorney
Earlier Thursday, Matsch told Tigar to stop putting prospective jurors "on the spot" in trying to learn whether they could sentence a convicted murderer to death.
"Steering or putting somebody on the spot, both of those things probably should be avoided in terms of the specifics of 'what would you do,'" Matsch said.
Tigar agreed to watch the wording of his questions. The mild rebuke came after prosecutors complained about the way the defense attorney questioned a woman employed in the accounting division of a federal agency.
'It's a clean slate'
The woman, the 17th potential juror to be questioned, said she could consider life in prison as punishment for a serial killer, depending on circumstances.
She said that while she believed McVeigh deserved the death penalty for his conviction, she hadn't decided whether Nichols should be sentenced to death, if found guilty.
"At this point, it's a clean slate," she said.
Lawyers on both sides will meet in open court Friday to offer objections to specific jurors interviewed during the week.
Prosecutors say Nichols was a supporting player in the bombing. His attorney says he backed away from McVeigh's plot well in advance, and wasn't there when he executed it.
More than 500 potential jurors have been called for jury selection, a process expected to take weeks.
T H E B O M B I N G / C N N S T O R I E S / L I N K S
Related stories:
- Nichols' defense team led by a 'Tigar' - October 1, 1997
- Nichols' potential jurors to be challenged in open court - October 1, 1997
- Nichols an unknown to potential jurors - September 30, 1997
- 6 potential jurors questioned as Nichols' trial begins - September 29, 1997
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