Nichols Jury Leaned Toward Acquittal

The first vote turned in by the jurors deliberating Terry L. Nichols’ fate in the Oklahoma City bombing was 10 to 2 for acquittal, which prompted the two favoring conviction to demand a review of the evidence. Six days later, it was 9 to 3 for conviction. Nichols, 43, was convicted Dec. 23 of conspiracy and eight counts of involuntary manslaughter in the April 19, 1995, bombing that killed 168 people. He is to be sentenced Thursday in Denver. The jury deadlocked on the death penalty, leaving the sentence to U.S. District Judge Richard P. Matsch. One juror said they reached the compromise verdict after the three holdouts acknowledged Nichols helped plant a getaway car.