Judge in Terry Nichols case recuses

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The judge presiding over bombing conspirator Terry Nichols' preliminary hearing withdrew from case today, throwing Nichols February third preliminary hearing date into uncertainty.

Friday, November 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The judge presiding over bombing conspirator Terry Nichols' preliminary hearing withdrew from case today, throwing Nichols February third preliminary hearing date into uncertainty.

Judge Ray Dean Linder of Alva says he's been on the case for 27 months and its time for someone else to move it along.

Linder announced the decision during a hearing where he approved more than 130-thousand dollars in legal fees for Nichols defense attorneys.

Linder previously set a tentative February third date for Nichols' preliminary hearing that will determine whether he'll be bound over for trial.

Nichols faces 160 counts of first-degree murder in the April 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The case has been delayed repeatedly by legal disputes over pay for defense attorneys.