Terry Nichols says he's sorry

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Well, he did say he's sorry -- maybe we should just have him serve 160 consecutive life sentences.

 

Take note, Mr. Halen...

 

Mcalester - Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, addressing a court for the first time, proclaimed his faith in God and asked victims of the blast for forgiveness on Monday as a judge sentenced him to 161 consecutive life sentences.

 

"Words cannot adequately express the sorrow I have had over the years for the grief that so many have endured and continue to suffer," Nichols said from the witness stand. "I am truly sorry for what occurred."

 

District Judge Steven Taylor gave Nichols life without parole on each of 161 counts of first-degree murder.

 

Nichols had already been sentenced to life without parole in 1998 on federal charges for the deaths of eight law enforcement officers killed in the April 19 1995 bombing. He was spared the death penalty in both trials when jurors could not agree on a sentence.

 

US's No 1 mass murderer

 

Nichols, 49, never testified during his trials and said nothing after he was convicted in federal court.

 

In a lengthy statement on Monday laced with religious references, he asked for forgiveness, asked "everyone to acknowledge God," and offered to correspond with survivors from jail to "assist in their healing process."

 

He said God had worked through the jurors to spare him the death penalty.

 

"His hand has been guiding this trial from day one."

 

Many victims' relatives said they felt Nichols' statement was genuine, but others criticised the tone of his remarks."

 

"I didn't appreciate being preached to by him," said Darlene Welch, whose niece was killed in the bombing.

 

"It pleases me that he is taking time to apologise for his actions," said Marsha Knight, whose daughter, Frankie Merrill, was killed in the bombing.

 

Responding to his statement, the judge called Nichols a "terrorist" and the "No 1 mass murderer in all of US history."

 

"Your criminal acts in this case are historic in proportion," the judge said. "What could motivate you to do this? There are no answers."

 

Taylor said if he could legally order it, he would require Nichols to place photographs of all 161 victims on the walls of his prison cell.

 

Bomber Timothy McVeigh was convicted of federal conspiracy and murder charges and executed on June 11 2001.

 

"My views were not the same as Timothy McVeigh," Nichols said. "We may have had some similarities, but they were not the same."

 

Nichols also was sentenced to 10 years and a $5 000 fine for a conspiracy count, and 35 years and a $25 000 fine for first-degree arson. He was ordered to pay $5 million in restitution and $10,000 per count to a victims compensation fund, as well as legal fees.

 

The prosecution sought the maximum fine even though Nichols will be unable to pay.

 

Nichols has 10 days to appeal his conviction and sentence. His defence attorneys have urged him not to appeal, since gaining a new trial could result in another attempt to secure the death penalty.

[Dr. Tom 0]

Meh, somebody slip Death Row Bubba a shiv for this cocksucker...

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

If Terry Nichols had converted to Islam, does ANYONE not think he'd have received the death penalty? I'm against capital punishment, but as long as it is the law, I don't think people should be able to escape it simply by saying "praise Jesus!" in front of the jury.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Maybe, maybe not.

 

But the ACLU would offer to defend him...

[Stephen Joseph 0]

If Terry Nichols had converted to Islam, does ANYONE not think he'd have received the death penalty? I'm against capital punishment, but as long as it is the law, I don't think people should be able to escape it simply by saying "praise Jesus!" in front of the jury.

I don't think I like what you're implying. He didn't get death because he was a conspirator in the bombing and helped it along, but didn't actually pull the trigger...

 

This was not an issue that religion saved his ass. This is not some issue of pity on the Christian. Don't even pretend to insinuate that.

Edited August 10, 2004 by Stephen Joseph

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

If Terry Nichols had converted to Islam, does ANYONE not think he'd have received the death penalty? I'm against capital punishment, but as long as it is the law, I don't think people should be able to escape it simply by saying "praise Jesus!" in front of the jury.

I don't think I like what you're implying. He didn't get death because he was a conspirator in the bombing and helped it along, but didn't actually pull the trigger...

 

This was not an issue that religion saved his ass. This is not some issue of pity on the Christian. Don't even pretend to insinuate that.

You might want to look into what some of the jurors have said about this case.

[Highland 0]

Ugh. This cocksucker suddenly finds God and some of the relatives of those that lost their lives in the Oklahoma City bombing want to forgive him.

I'm surprised that there wasn't a way to apply the death penalty in this case, even if he didn't trigger the bomb he was an active conspirator.

I don't know how different the laws of Virginia are from Oklahoma, or even the Federal government, but Malvo was the shooter in the DC Sniper shootings, not Mohammed, but Mohammed is the one on deathrow.

 

Just put Nichols in general pop without the bullet proof vest and protective helmet. Problem solved.

[Special K 0]

Shit, I thought he was already dead.

 

EDIT: on a complete tangent, why don't we have firing squads for capitol punishment? (I think like two states still have it, but I'm too lazy to look it up.)

 

If I was a mass murderer, that would be how I would want to go. beats the namby-pamby bullshit we have in Washington with the 'too fat to hang'. And it is, actually incredibly humane. Unless you have everyone aim for the stomach, which may be warranted in some cases.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Because the ACLU will say it's cruel and mean.

 

I wonder why we can't just kill murderers the same way they slaughtered their victims...

[Guest SP-1]

Ugh. This cocksucker suddenly finds God and some of the relatives of those that lost their lives in the Oklahoma City bombing want to forgive him.

I'm surprised that there wasn't a way to apply the death penalty in this case, even if he didn't trigger the bomb he was an active conspirator.

I don't know how different the laws of Virginia are from Oklahoma, or even the Federal government, but Malvo was the shooter in the DC Sniper shootings, not Mohammed, but Mohammed is the one on deathrow.

 

Just put Nichols in general pop without the bullet proof vest and protective helmet. Problem solved.

Those relaties are doing the right thing. But their forgivness doesn't magically take away his sentence. Simply because they've forgiven him doesn't mean a thing insofar as his punishment being reduced or anything.

 

There's really no reason to complain about that.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Shit, I thought he was already dead.

 

EDIT: on a complete tangent, why don't we have firing squads for capitol punishment? (I think like two states still have it, but I'm too lazy to look it up.)

 

If I was a mass murderer, that would be how I would want to go. beats the namby-pamby bullshit we have in Washington with the 'too fat to hang'. And it is, actually incredibly humane. Unless you have everyone aim for the stomach, which may be warranted in some cases.

I know for a fact Utah does.

 

It'd be my pick too, as bullets are cheap, and it's quick and classic.

 

If I were that level of a criminal though, I'd just as soon go out in a blaze of glory with the police or whatever.

[Guest BDC]

I've never figured out what's cruel and unusual about a firing squad. You take a bullet to the head and you're done. Period. You don't slip away and go to sleep, you're dead BAM just like that.

 

Oh wait, the CLEANUP is cruel and usual, right? How I hate the ACLU.