Pre-Trial Hearing Opens In Bomb Case

Victims and relatives who will testify in the Oklahoma City bombing trial were barred from the courtroom Wednesday by the judge, who said the mere sight of the two men accused of killing their loved ones could taint their testimony.

U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch issued the ruling at the start of a three-day pre-trial hearing on a defense move to have certain evidence thrown out.

Defense attorneys claim federal agents mishandled searches and interrogations and allowed tests by unqualified investigators. Prosecutors have said they did no wrong.

The defense team also said it had learned how the FBI was able to move in on Terry Nichols’ family the day after the bombing, even before Nichols turned himself in to police: his brother’s ex-wife had become a government informant.