McVEIGH authorized lawyers to help co-conspirator

DENVER (AP) _ Shortly before Timothy McVeigh was executed by lethal injection, he authorized his lawyers to help co-conspirator Terry Nichols avoid the death penalty. <br><br>Nichols is serving a life

Thursday, June 14th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) _ Shortly before Timothy McVeigh was executed by lethal injection, he authorized his lawyers to help co-conspirator Terry Nichols avoid the death penalty.

Nichols is serving a life sentence for his role in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people. He was convicted in Denver of federal involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy charges for the deaths of eight law enforcement officers.

Oklahoma prosecutors have filed 160 state murder charges are seeking the death penalty.

Nathan Chambers, one of McVeigh's lawyers, said Thursday that attorneys for Nichols have not asked him or attorney Rob Nigh any questions so far.

``He told us if they have specific questions, that we can talk with them as we deem appropriate,'' Chambers said.

He said McVeigh had talked about it for a while.

``It was a matter of ongoing discussion frankly.''

The Denver lawyer returned home Tuesday after witnessing McVeigh's execution Monday in Terre Haute, Ind.

McVeigh was convicted in Denver of murder, conspiracy and mass weapons charges and sentenced to die.