Judge mulls moving bomb trial

Oklahomans consider it a 'slap'

December 12, 1995
Web posted at: 9:45 p.m. EST

From Correspondent Tony Clark

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (CNN) -- The new federal judge picked to preside over the Oklahoma City bombing trial has canceled the May 17 trial date without setting a new one or deciding where the trial will be held.

Judge Richard Matsch of Denver replaced Oklahoma Judge Wayne Alley (related story) after an appeals court ruled December 1 that Alley was too closely tied to the case.

The case is slated to be tried in Lawton, Oklahoma, but the appointment of a new judge increases the chances it will be moved out of state.

Matsch has set a hearing for January 30 on defense requests to move the trial of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, the two men accused of bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building on April 19. The blast killed 169 people. McVeigh and Nichols could face the death penalty if convicted on the charges of terrorism, conspiracy, and murder.

The prosecution has suggested Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the new trial location. The defense has offered to settle for Denver, Matsch's home city. No ruling is likely until after the January 30 hearing date.

Survivors upset over possible move

Bombing survivors and families of the victims say they are disturbed by the prospect of the trial moving. "It's a slap in the face to the people of Oklahoma," said Janni Coverdale, whose two grandsons, 2-year-old Elijah and 5-year-old Aaron, were killed in the blast. She said she believes it would be possible to find an impartial jury of Oklahomans. (145K AIFF sound or 145K WAV sound)

Many of the victims' families, as well as survivors of the explosion, want to be able to attend the trial. "I need to be there for my own personal healing process," said Amy Petty, an employee of the Federal Employees Credit Union who was injured in the bombing. The blast killed 20 of her co-workers.

Patti Hall, another survivor, is still undergoing physical therapy for her injuries. She says if the trial is moved out of Oklahoma she can't afford to go. "This was done to Oklahoma people and we should ... be able to attend the trial and be there for closure." (136K AIFF sound or 136K WAV sound)

Her feelings are typical, according to psychologist Paul Heath, himself a survivor of the explosion. "Everybody I know hopes that it doesn't move. I know of no one that wants the trial moved. I personally don't want the trial moved."

Heath is president of the Murrah Building Survivors Association. "What they hope to get out of it is a way to deal with their anger. If these are indeed the people who blew up the building, they want to know what their motives were."

Judge to rule on access to records

Match is scheduled to appear in court for the first time Wednesday morning for a hearing on new media requests for access to sealed records in the case.

The records in question include a prison psychiatrist's conversations with Nichols shortly after he was charged in the case. Both Nichols and McVeigh are to be present for the hearing.

Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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