Juror in Nichols Trial Has Heart Attack

McALESTER, Okla. -- A juror in the trial of Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols had a heart attack before arriving in court Thursday and was replaced by an alternate.

Judge Steven Taylor said the man was hospitalized and is expected to fully recover.

His notes were destroyed, and the judge said reporters should not contact him.

A female alternate took his place, leaving two other alternates. Court rules prohibit identifying jurors.

The jury now has six women and six men as the defense is set to begin its case in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed 168 people.

Prosecutors, who are seeking the death penalty, rested their case April 30 after questioning 151 witnesses and introducing more than 1,000 pieces of evidence over 29 days.

Reports of the juror’s heart attack followed a ruling by the judge that defense attorneys could test unidentified fingerprints in a bid to show Nichols took the blame for others who aided in the bombing.

The defense is hoping to match fingerprints found in Timothy McVeigh’s car and a hotel room where he stayed days before the bombing, to a gang of white-separatist bank robbers.

Defense attorneys allege the robbers helped McVeigh plan the bombing and will suggest a wider conspiracy during their case.

The trial was supposed to have six alternates, but two jurors and one alternate were dismissed before the start of trial after the state revealed they were distant relatives of an assistant Oklahoma County district attorney.

The district attorney’s office is prosecuting the case.

Prosecutors did not reveal the family ties until after the close of jury selection, drawing criticism from Taylor.

He said if he ran out of alternates, he would dismiss the case.

Defense attorneys allege that McVeigh received substantial help from others and that Nichols was set up to take the blame for the bombing.

Dozens of people in Oklahoma and elsewhere reported seeing a second person who did not resemble Nichols with McVeigh in the days and weeks before the bombing.

Evidence concerning the enigmatic suspect, known as John Doe No. 2, will be presented.