DEL.ICIO.USNichols gets life without parole
Killer offers short apology before getting ‘many lifetimes’ in ‘05 courthouse spree
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Fulton Courthouse killer Brian Nichols was sentenced Saturday morning to seven life sentences and four sentences of life without parole plus 485 years for the crimes he committed on March 11, 2005, that stunned metro Atlanta and the nation.
Superior Court Judge James Bodiford made all the sentences consecutive — meaning each sentence starts after the prior one is completed — to make the point of the seriousness of Nichols crimes.
PHOTOS• A look at the case 2005-present
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• Interactive graphic: The 2005 shootings
• Video: Nichols' confession
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“You’ll be pleased to know that I’m not going to lecture too much this morning,” Bodiford said before starting the sentencing. “I’m not going to express outrage and I’m not going to express any feelings might have. … The jury has spoken and I respect the jury. … I think the jury did everything it could to come up with a unanimous sentence.”
Bodiford read his decision Saturday shortly after allowing Nichols to speak. It was his first time speaking in front of a public courtroom.
“I am sorry. I just want to say that I will not bring dishonor to the decision to spare my life,” Nichols said.
Bodiford, who noted that Nichols had always been respectful to the court, suggested that Nichols should serve his time in the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colo., which has the reputation as the toughest prison in the nation.
Bodiford said he was surprised to learn during the trial that Nichols, who is committed of state crimes, could still serve his time in a federal prison. It is the most secure prison in the nation.
“I thought maybe Supermax might be a good place for Mr. Nichols for what it is worth,” Bodiford said. “I don’t believe I can order it and I am not going to order it but that is my two cents’ worth.”
Meanwhile, Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Joan Heath said Nichols would be taken into state custody once prison officials had received paperwork from the judge. She said the agency would not announce plans to transfer Nichols from the custody of the DeKalb County sheriff, who has held him in his jail since Nichols plotted another escape attempt from the Fulton County Jail, for security reasons.
Bodiford admonished members of the public who had blogged on the internet or opined that Nichols didn’t deserve a fair trial. “Some people say why give him a trial at all,” Bodiford said. “Well maybe that is the way they do it in Cuba. The government decides.”
“Please don’t throw out my chance to a fair trial.”
As Bodiford emphasized that Nichols was deserved to be treated respectfully in his courtroom, Candee Wilhelm, widow of murdered federal agent David Wilhelm, looked downward and shook her head — every time the judge said Nichols would be treated respectfully.
“For four innocent people to be taken off this earth in just a few hours … I believe there is a higher power and there had to be some purpose,” Bodiford said. “I know a lot of people must have thought ‘If only Agent Wilhelm had gotten the draw on Mr. Nichols.’ “
Nichols was being tried for rape in March 2005 when he overpowered Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputy Cynthia Hall. He took Hall’s gun, went to the courtroom and killed the Superior Court judge in his rape trial, Rowland Barnes, and Barnes’ court reporter, Julie Ann Brandau. Outside the courtroom, Nichols shot and killed Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Hoyt Teasley. Later that day he killed David Wilhelm, a U.S. Customs agent.
He later made it to Gwinnett County where he kidnapped a woman, Ashley Smith, who says she talked Nichols into surrendering.
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