Feds Rule Out Prosecuting Nichols

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – There will be no federal prosecution of courthouse killer Brian Nichols.

Nichols was sentenced in December to life in prison without parole, but some still held out hope that federal prosecutors would seek the death penalty against him.

WABE's Odette Yousef reports.

The statement from David Nahmias, the U.S. District Attorney for Northern Georgia, describes a potential federal case as too cumbersome and lengthy to merit any result. Nahmias reviewed the possibility with other federal prosecutors and the FBI.

The federal capital charges that could be sought against Nichols would be limited to the murder of David Wilhelm, a federal immigrations and customs enforcement agent.

But in his written statement, Nahmias said further charges would disrupt the finality that was achieved with the state's case. He also says Fulton County's District Attorney did a, quote, "skillful and aggressive" job in prosecuting Nichols.

The statement does note that Nahmias could change his mind, if Nichols' current sentence or security situation should change.

Nichols murdered a Fulton County Courthouse Judge, Court reporter, sheriff's Deputy, and Wilhelm, in March of 2005.

Odette Yousef, WABE News.