Defense motion denied in Terry Nichols court hearing

Tuesday, July 1st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A state judge has ruled that a drill bit that allegedly links Terry Nichols to the theft of explosives used in the Oklahoma City bombing can be used in his trial.

District Judge Steven Taylor has denied a defense motion to keep the drill bit out of the trial which begins March 1st.

Nichols has been convicted of federal bombing charges and has been sentenced to life in prison.

He now faces 162 murder charges in state court. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Investigators found the drill and drill bits while searching Nichols' home in Herrington, Kansas, after he surrendered two days after the April 19th, 1995 bombing.