Jury seated in Nichols bombing trial
McALESTER, Oklahoma (AP) -- The 12 jurors picked for bombing conspirator Terry Nichols' murder trial include a retired Army Special Forces officer, a homemaker, a chef at an Italian restaurant and an oil field equipment inspector.
Many have close ties to the military, share strong religious beliefs and are avid hunters. All have vowed to be fair and impartial in deciding Nichols' guilt or innocence on charges that could bring the death penalty.
"I'll look to see what the truth is," one juror said during questioning by defense attorney Brian Hermanson.
The six men and six women, plus six alternates, were seated Thursday. Opening statements are scheduled March 22.
Nichols, 48, is already serving a life sentence on federal charges for the deaths of eight law enforcement officers in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building that killed 168 people.
The state murder charges cover the 160 others and one victim's fetus.
Defense attorneys have argued that pretrial publicity made it impossible for Nichols to receive a fair trial in the state.
Prosecutors say Nichols helped Timothy McVeigh assemble the ingredients for the bomb and build it. McVeigh was convicted on federal murder charges and executed in 2001.
Prospective jurors who were not chosen said they were surprised by the lawyers' choices.
"I feel that they made some bad choices," said Julie Ward, who was not picked. "There are some people up there who are there for the wrong reasons."
Ward said she overheard some say they plan to write a book about their experience.
Jury selection hit a snag this week when a prospective juror said she overheard other people in the 350-member jury pool say their minds were made up and that they would lie to get onto the jury and convict Nichols.
The judge asked the 42 prospective jurors individually whether they would lie to get selected, and they told him they had been truthful.
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