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McVeigh execution witness list climbs to 300

McVeigh is scheduled to be executed May 16

From Terry Frieden
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The group of witnesses who will watch the scheduled May 16 execution of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh on closed-circuit television has gotten larger, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

As of Tuesday, about 300 people -- either family members of the 168 people killed in the April 19, 1995 bombing or those who were injured -- confirmed to the Justice Department they wanted to see the closed-circuit telecast from Terra Haute, Indiana. That's about 50 more witnesses than had indicated possible interest in watching the execution when the government conducted an initial survey in February.

GALLERY Painful memories in Oklahoma City     IN-DEPTH • A shattering explosion • Multimedia flashback • Pain and memories persist • Memorial images     CNNfyi.com Lesson Plan: Oklahoma City remembers     MESSAGE BOARD Death penalty     ALSO McVeigh's father says his son won't apologize In a letter, pope asks Bush to spare McVeigh

After a visit to Oklahoma City by Attorney General John Ashcroft, officials selected the Federal Transfer Facility as the site there for the victims to witness what will be the first federal execution since 1963.

Justice officials then asked for firm commitments from the Oklahoma City residents by May 1 so authorities could proceed with plans to provide the live transmission from the U.S. Penitentiary at Terre Haute.

Witnesses in Oklahoma City will see McVeigh make his final statement while strapped on a gurney, hear the final execution order given by a U.S. marshal and watch as the lethal injection is administered. A prison official Wednesday estimated McVeigh would be dead within eight to 15 minutes. The video feed will begin when the curtains to the execution chamber are opened and conclude when they are drawn to ensure that the remote witnesses see the same thing as the on-site witnesses.

Ten victims of the bombing were selected by the Justice Department to travel to Indiana to watch the execution from a viewing room beside the death chamber. Officials Wednesday said another group of "approximately 10 individuals" intend to travel to Terre Haute at their own expense, despite rules which allow only 10 victim eyewitnesses to view the execution.

According to the Justice Department, those individuals say they want to be present in the city where the execution is taking place, even though they will not be able to see it. Officials promised to provide a separate private area for these individuals to gather, but no closed-circuit telecast of the execution.

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April 19, 2001
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April 13, 2001
Bill Press: McVeigh to die on television
April 13, 2001
Ashcroft OKs closed TV feed of McVeigh execution
April 11, 2001
FBI: McVeigh knew children would be killed in OKC blast
March 29, 2001
McVeigh autopsy deal says no 'invasive procedure'
March 19, 2001
McVeigh scheduled to die by lethal injection May 16
January 16, 2001
Judge says McVeigh can drop appeals
December 28, 2000

Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of Justice
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Oklahoma State Government
Death Penalty Information Center
U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons

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