Security at Nichols Oklahoma Hearing not as Strict as Last Trial

Wednesday, February 2nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Murrah bombing conspirator Terry Nichols' first court appearance in Oklahoma lasted less than 20 minutes Wednesday. The arraignment took place inside the Oklahoma County jail. There was a metal detector in place, but unlike Nichols' Federal trial in Denver, not everyone was required to go through it. Also unlike in Denver, the reporters and attorneys received photo I-D's for the hearing without having to go through background checks.

Nichols wore the same type clothes he did during his Denver trial, khaki pants and a navy blazer. He wasn't handcuffed as he stood next to his attorneys in front of the judge. The judge told Nichols he was charged with 160 counts of murder and would be held without bond. "It feels good to get it underway,â€ said Dr. Paul Heath, bombing survivor. â€œJustice is long overdue. It'll just be good to get it over."

The hearing was held in a makeshift courtroom in the basement of the jail for security reasons. Nichols is being held in a cell on the 13th floor. His attorneys argued his constitutional rights were violated by the way he was brought here from Colorado and by being tried again for the bombing. "Judge Matsch said Nichols was guilty of trying to murder the Constitution and now his representatives are trying to hide behind the Constitution every way he can," Heath said.

Judge Robert Murphy from Stillwater will handle all the pretrial hearings and the preliminary hearing. He says this is the biggest case he's ever handled, but in most ways, it's like any other. "Probably the biggest difference is I got an escort over here and the media attention, otherwise it was a normal initial appearance," Murphy explained.

Murphy's next decisions will be whether to keep having hearings in the present room, whether to issue a gag order against the attorneys and whether to allow a camera in the courtroom for the trial. Wednesdayâ€™s hearing was an important first step for prosecutors and the other people who want Nichols tried in Oklahoma. Nichols' next court appearance is Friday, February 11th. At that hearing, the judge will take up the issue of the gag order. Nichols waived his right Wednesday to have a trial within 120 days as required by state law.