Terry Nichols will not appeal his Oklahoma conviction and sentence

PONCA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols will not appeal his state murder conviction and life in prison sentence sentence.<br/><br/>Nichols attorney Brian Hermanson announced the decision

Thursday, August 19th 2004, 9:39 am

By: News On 6

PONCA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols will not appeal his state murder conviction and life in prison sentence sentence.

Nichols attorney Brian Hermanson announced the decision Thursday afternoon in Ponca City.

Nichols was convicted on 161 state murder and other charges for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building.

The jury in McAlester deadlocked on whether Nichols should be given the death penalty. He was then sentenced to life in prison.

Defense attorneys encouraged Nichols not to appeal because prosecutors could again seek the death penalty at a new trial.

Nichols is already serving life without parole on federal manslaughter and conspiracy convictions for the deaths of eight federal agents in the bombing.

Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane has said he expects Nichols will return to federal custody when the appeal deadline passes.