DEATH FOR MCVEIGH; JURORS DECIDE PENALTY FOR THE TAKING OF 168 LIVES.Byline: Michael Fleeman Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Timothy McVeigh Timothy James McVeigh (aka Oklahoma City bomber April 23, 1968 – June 11, 2001), was a former American soldier who was convicted of eleven federal offenses and ultimately executed as a result of his role on the April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City bombing. was condemned to death Friday for the Oklahoma City bombing See Terrorism "The Oklahoma City Bombing" (Sidebar); Venue "Venue and the Oklahoma City Bombing Case" (Sidebar). , accepting the ultimate punishment without so much as a blink. ``It's OK,'' he mouthed to his parents. U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch's usually firm voice wavered slightly as he read the jury's unanimous decision A Unanimous Decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which all 3 judges agree on which fighter won the match. two years and 55 days after the blast that killed 168 people - the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Bombing survivors and victims' relatives gasped, cried on each other's shoulders and held hands. The same jury that convicted McVeigh of murder and conspiracy June 2 deliberated for more than 11 hours over two days before deciding the 29-year-old decorated Gulf War veteran should die by injection rather than spend the rest of his life in prison. The prosecution called the carnage ``the crime that the death penalty was designed for.'' McVeigh's father's shoulders slumped, his sister cried and his mother sat silently, saving her tears until after the court session. McVeigh sat in the same position as when he was convicted: narrowed eyes on the judge, hands clasped and pressed against his cheek, no movement whatsoever in his expressionless face. When the judge asked the jurors if they were sure of their verdict, four of them stared straight at McVeigh as they answered ``Yes.'' McVeigh leaned back in his chair with his hand up to his mouth and watched. As he was led out of the courtroom, he made a small, two-finger wave to his parents, mouthed ``It's OK'' and then made the same wave to the jury that condemned him, nodding his head up and down. The jurors stared back blankly. Later Friday, McVeigh's mother blamed the media and government for her son's fate. ``Since my son - the day he was arrested - I feel that it was done, that he was convicted and sentenced to death by the media and the government,'' Mildred Frazer said on ABC's ``20/20.'' ``I'm not saying he didn't have a fair trial,'' she said. ``I'm just saying that I don't think that it was done right from the beginning.'' The jury's death decision is binding. Matsch said he will impose the actual sentence later this summer, after a July 7 deadline for motions and appeals. In Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm , along the fence where the bombed-out federal building once stood, cheers erupted. Church bells tolled on the half-hour as the verdict came in. ``I think Timothy McVeigh needs to prepare himself to meet God. That's his judge,'' said Lyle Cousins, whose wife, Kim, was killed in the blast. Kathleen Treanor, who lost her 4-year-old daughter and her in-laws, said: ``When Timothy McVeigh made the decision to murder, maim maim v. to inflict a serious bodily injury, including mutilation or any harm which limits the victim's ability to function physically. Originally, in English Common Law it meant to cut off or permanently cripple a bodily member like an arm, leg, hand, or foot. and destroy all these people, he gave up the right to be called a human being. Death is obviously what he should have.'' McVeigh's lawyers had argued that he was a well-meaning but misguided patriot bent on Adj. 1. bent on - fixed in your purpose; "bent on going to the theater"; "dead set against intervening"; "out to win every event" bent, dead set, out to avenging the 1993 government siege at Waco. But in its verdict, the jury unanimously rejected the assertion that he ``believed deeply in the ideals upon which the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. was founded.'' Outside the courthouse, defense attorney Stephen Jones Stephen Jones is the name of:
``We ask that the barriers and intolerance that have divided us may crumble, that suspicions disappear and that hatreds cease and that our divisions and intolerance being healed, we may live together in justice and peace.'' He ended with the words: ``God save the United States of America UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The name of this country. The United States, now thirty-one in number, are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, . God save this honorable court.'' Prosecutor Joseph Hartzler, who had urged jurors to have the courage to sentence McVeigh to death and to ignore the defense's dark hints of more violence, said the sentencing decision brought no joy to the prosecution. ``We're pleased that the system worked and that justice prevailed,'' h`e said. ``The verdict doesn't diminish the great sadness that occurred in Oklahoma City two years ago.'' Most jurors, reached at their homes, refused to discuss the deliberations. ``I'm glad it's complete,'' said juror juror n. any person who actually serves on a jury. Lists of potential jurors are chosen from various sources such as registered voters, automobile registration or telephone directories. David Gilger. ``I think there's a sense of closure for everyone.'' McVeigh's fate now rests with the appellate court A court having jurisdiction to review decisions of a trial-level or other lower court. An unsuccessful party in a lawsuit must file an appeal with an appellate court in order to have the decision reviewed. , while co-defendant Terry Nichols Terry Lynn Nichols (born April 1, 1955) is a U.S. Army veteran who was convicted of being an accomplice of Timothy McVeigh, the man convicted of murder in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., April 19, 1995), which claimed 168 lives. is expected to go on trial later this year on the same charges. The prosecution called 38 witnesses to make the case, as prosecutor Beth Wilkinson Beth A. Wilkinson is a prominent Washington, D.C. lawyer, perhaps best known for her successful argument for the execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. She has also been a critic of unfair administration of the death penalty. said, that the slaughter was ``the crime that the death penalty was designed for.'' She urged jurors to ``look into the eyes of a coward'' and muster the courage to sentence him to die for a crime that killed more people than the total number of Americans who died in combat in the Persian Gulf Persian Gulf, arm of the Arabian Sea, 90,000 sq mi (233,100 sq km), between the Arabian peninsula and Iran, extending c.600 mi (970 km) from the Shatt al Arab delta to the Strait of Hormuz, which links it with the Gulf of Oman. . CHRONOLOGY Chronology of the Oklahoma City bombing case: April 19, 1995: Bomb rips through Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was a United States Federal Government complex located at 200 N.W. 5th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Murrah building was the target of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19 1995. at 9:02 a.m. Timothy McVeigh arrested 90 minutes later on firearms charge after traffic stop near Billings, Okla. April 21: Federal authorities arrest McVeigh, who resembles John Doe John Doe formerly, any plaintiff; now just anybody. [Am. Pop. Usage: Brewer Dictionary, 329] See : Everyman No. 1, in connection with bombing hours before he was expected to make bail on firearms charge. Terry Nichols surrenders in Herington, Kan., after learning police are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. him. May 10: Terry Nichols charged in bombing. Aug. 7: McVeigh attorney Stephen Jones suggests unidentified leg found in rubble could belong to ``the real bomber.'' Aug. 11: Grand jury indicts McVeigh and Nichols on murder and conspiracy charges. McVeigh friend Michael Fortier
Sept. 14: U.S. District Judge Wayne Alley denies requests from both sides that he step aside because his office and courtroom were damaged by bomb. He sets trial for May 17 in Lawton, 90 miles from Oklahoma City. Oct. 20: Attorney General Janet Reno Janet Reno (born July 21, 1938) was the first and to date only female Attorney General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. authorizes prosecutors to seek death penalty. Dec. 1: Federal appeals court r`emoves Alley, ruling that bomb damage to his courtroom and chambers could raise doubts about his impartiality. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch of Denver appointed to preside. 1996 Feb. 20: Matsch moves case to Denver, ruling that McVeigh and Nichols have been ``demonized'' by intense media coverage in Oklahoma. July 15: Matsch says law establishing closed-circuit telecast of trial is constitutional. He later orders telecast to be shown in government auditorium near Oklahoma City airport. Oct. 25: Matsch orders McVeigh and Nichols to be tried separately, ruling their rights could be compromised by joint trial. Nichols will be tried after McVeigh, but no date has been set. 1997 Jan. 27: Four FBI workers who evaluated evidence are transferred out of crime lab in wake of federal report critical of lab procedures. Feb. 20: Matsch denies defense requests to eliminate testimony of six prosecution eyewitnesses who changed portions of their accounts. March 31: Jury selection begins in McVeigh's trial. April 22: Jury seated. April 24: Opening statements begin. May 21: Prosecutors rest their case after calling 137 witnesses in 18 days. May 28: Defense rests after calling 25 witnesses in 3-1/2 days. May 29: Closing arguments. May 30: Jurors begin deliberations. June 2: Jury convicts McVeigh on all 11 murder and conspiracy counts. June 4: Penalty phase begins with prosecution opening statements and witnesses. June 6: Prosecution rests in penalty phase after calling 38 witnesses in 2-1/2 days; Defense begins its penalty case. June 11: Defense rests in penalty phase after calling 27 witnesses over four days. June 12: Closing arguments in penalty phase. Deliberations begin. June 13: Jury decides unanimously to impose the death penalty. Associated Press VALLEY VIEWS How do you feel about Timothy McVeigh getting the death sentence and do you think this decision will affect domestic terrorism Noun 1. domestic terrorism - terrorism practiced in your own country against your own people; "the 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City was an instance of domestic terrorism" ? ``Goo`d! He did it during the day when all the kids were there . . . Especially with the kids, I have a real problem with it. Those people that do that type of thing don't care
"Don't Care" is a 1994 (see 1994 in music) single by American death metal band Obituary. if they get the chair or death by lethal injection.'' - Mike Woodruff 53, of Los Angeles ``If he's guilty, he should go. He killed a lot of innocent children and people. I am usually a liberal. But this guy, he should not take out any federal buildings where there are people inside . . . Personally, I don't think (the sentencing) is going to have an effect on terrorism.'' - Ira Monatlik 51, of Winnetka ``I personally would rather see him suffer for the rest of his life. I think that is a much tougher punishment. I think he should regret it every single day from now on. He should be imprisoned im·pris·on tr.v. im·pris·oned, im·pris·on·ing, im·pris·ons To put in or as if in prison; confine. [Middle English emprisonen, from Old French emprisoner : en- in the worst possible place. I think that (domestic terrorists) who are that angry are going to be that angrier . . . I don't think they think rationally in the first place.'' - Alan Sherman 50, of Studio City ``He got just what he deserves. Anything less would have been a joke. It would have been an O.J. trial all over again. I'm very happy. I don't think it'll have a great effect on domestic terrorism.'' - Margaret Oktavec 36, of Berkeley (visiting Van Nuys Civic Center) ``When I started hearing the case, I thought he deserved the death penalty. Now, I guess we all deserve to live, no matter what we've done. I believe God gave us life and He's the only one who can take it.'' - Ana Alvarado 23, of North Hills CAPTION(S): 8 Photos, 2 Boxes Photo: (1--Color) TIMOTHY McVEIGH (2--Color) Blanche Tomlin, right, mother of a blast victim, hugs an unidentified person Friday at the federal court in Denver. Associated Press (3--Color) No caption (Bombed-out Alfred Murrah Federal Building) (4) Mike Woodruff (5) Ira Monatlik (6) Margaret Oklavec (7) Ana ALvarado (8) Alan Sherman Box: (1) Chronology (See text) (2) VALLEY VIEWS (See text) |
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