Nichols Sentencing Phase Delayed

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – The beginning of the penalty phase of Brian Nichols's trial has been delayed until Wednesday.

Nichols was found guilty on Friday of 54 crimes related to his attempted escape from Fulton County's Courthouse in 2005.

The day should have started with opening statements, but attorney Robert McGlasson said that after looking at the list of witnesses that the state intends to call, the defense needs more time to prepare:

McGLASSON: We know who they are, we know some things about them and some of the information that we think they might (unintelligible), but we don't know what the state intends to do with them.

McGlasson said that under a previous ruling, the state has to provide more specifics about who it intends to call to the stand, and why. Judge James Bodiford affirmed McGlasson's argument and sent the jury home early.

Nichols could face life in prison, life without parole, or the death penalty.