Lawyer Says McVeigh Wants Execution

Thursday, January 11th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) â€” On the eve of the deadline for changing his mind, Timothy McVeigh still wanted a prompt execution for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, according to his attorneys.

``There has been no change in Mr. McVeigh's intent,'' lawyer Nathan Chambers said Wednesday after meeting with his client in an Indiana prison. ``He is continuing with his decision to forgo the appeals.''

U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch agreed to McVeigh's request last month, giving him until Thursday to change his mind. Otherwise, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons will set a date â€” as early as May â€” for him to die by lethal injection.

At a Dec. 28 hearing, McVeigh reserved the right to seek clemency from the White House, however, telling the judge: ``The president, as I understand it, has almost unlimited power in this respect.''

McVeigh was convicted of murder, conspiracy and other charges for the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed 168 people and injured more than 500.

He has lost two appeals, at the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal appeals court. But he has not exhausted all appeals.

In December, McVeigh asked Matsch to end his appeals but has not explained why. He has the legal right to do so, even if his lawyers object.

McVeigh's court-appointed attorneys have urged him to continue the appeals, and Chambers planned to stay in his office Thursday in case McVeigh changed his mind.