State to End its Phase of Nichols Trial Today

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – Today the state is expected to wrap up its phase of the trial against Brian Nichols. Nichols is accused of killing four people in a shooting rampage that began at the Fulton County Courthouse in March of 2005.

Though the list of potential witnesses for the prosecution numbered several hundred, the state whittled it down to only a handful, over two weeks of testimony. Atlanta criminal defense attorney Page Pate says that testimony tried to portray Nichols' as calculating and methodical:

PATE: But at the same time I think that they did open the door for the insanity defense that the defense lawyers want to present.

Defense lawyers will try to convince jurors that Nichols suffered from a delusion that he was a slave rebelling against the U.S. government. Pate says their success will rest on the strength of their expert witnesses, but still, it will be tough:

PATE: Because I think that most people who are going to be sitting in the jury box are going to be more concerned about their safety, and the fact that he's tried to escape before, and that's hard to overcome, no matter how mentally ill the defendant may be.

The trial judge hopes it will be concluded by the end of December.