Nichols Trial to Go On Without Funding Solution

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – Jury questioning in the Brian Nichols death penalty trial will begin as scheduled, on October 15th. At a hearing this morning, Judge Hilton Fuller said he doesn't know where money will come from to go forward, but hopes for an eleventh-hour solution.

Nichols' lawyers say they won't be ready by the 15th. They need money to cover the cost of transcribing hundreds of hours of Nichols' telephone calls, and to retain experts for Nichols' mental health defense.

Judge Fuller expressed frustration with the funding quagmire:

FULLER: I know it's the state of Georgia's responsibility to fund this defense adequately. Who's responsible for not having it done, I don't know. But it's put this court in an impossible situation. And if there's anybody out there who has a solution to this problem, that can be done with fairness to all the parties and the state of Georgia, write me an anonymous letter.

Nichols' defense has cost 1.2 million dollars so far, and the state and Fulton County say they won't pay anymore.

Nichols is charged with killing three Fulton County Court officials and a federal agent in 2005.