Judge Rules on Telecast Seating at McVeigh Trial

Oklahoma City bombing victims will be admitted to a closed-circuit telecast of Timothy J. McVeigh’s trial on a first-come, first-served basis, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

Reservations will be handled through a telephone voice-mail system operated by the U.S. attorney’s victims’ assistance unit in Oklahoma City. More than 2,200 people are listed in an official database of bombing victims and their family members. There are only 315 available seats.

McVeigh and co-defendant Terry L. Nichols are charged with murder, conspiracy and weapons-related counts in the April 19, 1995, bombing that killed 168 people. Nichols will be tried later.

Meanwhile, a story on Playboy magazine’s Internet site said McVeigh told his attorneys the bomb’s force threw him against the wall of a building as he escaped.

The magazine said its story was based on “lawfully obtained documents” prepared for the defense that were obtained last spring.

The Playboy story is the second to move on the Internet in the last two weeks that says McVeigh confessed to his lawyers. The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site on Feb. 28 that McVeigh told his defense team that he attacked during the day to ensure a “body count.”

Prosecutors declined comment.