Judge Reconsiders Bombing Trial Location

Citing “obvious deficiencies” in its tiny courthouse, a federal judge said Wednesday he has serious doubts about holding the Oklahoma bombing trial in Lawton, where it had been scheduled.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are charged with murder and conspiracy in the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, which killed 169 people and injured more than 500 others. They could get the death penalty if convicted.

This week, U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch has been considering a request by defense attorneys to move the trial out of Oklahoma.

The defense claims that pretrial publicity will make it impossible for the defendants to get a fair trial; prosecutors want the trial to remain in the state so the survivors of bombing victims can attend.

During testimony Wednesday about the suitability of Lawton for the trial, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed it would cost at least $1 million to renovate the tiny federal courthouse there to handle the bombing trial.