Nichols Turned Down Deal

Federal prosecutors offered convicted Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols a chance last summer to plead guilty to murder in exchange for life in prison, but he turned the offer down, Newsweek magazine reports.

Nichols escaped the death penalty on federal murder charges when jurors last week deadlocked on the punishment. But he still could face a death sentence if convicted on state murder charges in Oklahoma.

Newsweek, citing unnamed sources, said in the edition that hits newsstands today that Nichols rejected a deal from federal prosecutors to plead guilty and avoid a death sentence.

The magazine said prosecutors also tried to persuade Oklahoma City District Attorney Bob Macy to agree to a plea arrangement on state charges. Macy has said he will seek the death penalty against Nichols and co-conspirator Timothy McVeigh for 160 counts of murder.