State House Votes To Deny Funding For Nichols Trial

Tuesday, July 27th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Today at the state capitol, the Oklahoma House voted overwhelmingly to deny funding for a state trial of Terry Nichols in the Oklahoma City bombing. The action goes against one of the reasons Governor Keating called this week's legislative special session. Keating wanted lawmakers to find funds for Nichols' defense. The state's Indigent Defense System is seeking $3 million for the defense. Nichols is already serving a life term on a federal conviction for the bombing. The $1.2 million that was set aside for Nichols' trial was reallocated to help victims of the May 3rd tornadoes.

House members voted 76 to 13 not to allocate more money for the state trial. Representative Bill Graves of Oklahoma City says the state prosecution of Nichols may be useless, even if he is convicted and given the death penalty.