Terry Nichols judge expresses frustration at slow pace of case

Monday, September 22nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A state judge said Monday he's frustrated at the slow process of bringing Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols to trial on state murder charges.

District Judge Stephen Taylor says requests by Nichols' attorneys to interview federal law enforcement officers have dragged on too long.

Taylor authorized Nichols to interview as many as 61 federal workers about the bombing investigation. But Taylor says defense attorneys shouldn't waste their time talking to workers who had nothing to do with the case.

Nichols is charged with 161 counts of first-degree murder for the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Nichols' trial is scheduled to begin on March 1st in McAlester