Terry Nichols' defense asks for trial delay

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The state murder trial of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols is being delayed until the issue of legal fees for Nichols' defense are resolved. <br><br>Judge Ray

Wednesday, August 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The state murder trial of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols is being delayed until the issue of legal fees for Nichols' defense are resolved.

Judge Ray Dean Linder today issued the stay at the request by Nichols' attorney Brian Hermanson

Linder says the issue of funding Nichols' defense is paramount. He says the length of the stay will depend on how quickly the issue of the funding is resolved.

Hermanson says he hasn't been paid in nearly a year and other members of the defense team have taken other cases in order to make a living.

The state Supreme Court has ruled that the legal fees paid for Nichols' defense are appropriate.

The fees have been paid by the Oklahoma County court fund and judges who administer the fund question the court's ruling.

Nichols faces 160 state counts of first-degree murder for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P- Murrah Building.