June 20, 1995
(CNN) -- Prosecutors agreed Monday to turn off the around-the-clock video camera surveillance of bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh in prison for four hours each day.
They also agreed to give McVeigh access to exercise facilities, and books and other reading materials brought by his defense attorneys.
The defense worked out the agreement Friday with prosecutors, after prosecutors complained about the conditions under which McVeigh is being held at the El Reno federal prison outside Oklahoma City. Federal judge David Russell signed off on the changes Monday in a formal court order.
The deal suggests the surveillance camera be turned off from 5:30 PM until 9:30 PM each evening, or any other four-hour interval that both sides may agree upon. But, the judge said, this will not bar prison officials from watching McVeigh by other non-electronic methods, such as simply keeping an eye on him at all times.
Judge Russell ruled prison officials cannot release any videotapes made of McVeigh to the prosecution or anyone else without approval of the court.
The defense will be allowed to make its own photos and videotape of McVeigh, apparently so defense investigators can show them to potential witnesses in the case.
McVeigh has been held at the prison since April 21st, two days after the bombing attack which took 168 lives. The prosecution has been given until mid-August as a deadline for a formal indictment leading up to his trial.
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