Brian Nichols' penalty: Lawyers make final arguments

Metro Atlanta

Brian Nichols' penalty: Lawyers make final arguments

Photos: Lawyers in the the penalty phase of the Brian Nichols trial make their closing arguments.

The jury in the Brian Nichols trial was charged by Judge James Bodiford and went into delibrations.

Relatives of Sgt. Hoyt Teasley, one of four people killed by Brian Nichols, react to a video shown by prosecutor Clint Rucker. In closing arguments on Monday, Rucker urged the jury to impose the death penalty. Defense attorneys will urge the jury to spare Nichols' life.

Holly Ditmar, a daughter of Judge Rowland Barnes, who was killed in his Fulton County courtroom, tears up at the end of Clint Rucker's closing arguments on Monday,

The courtroom was packed as the drama of the more than three-and-half -year case reaches its live-or-die moment.

Prosecutor Clint Rucker used a monitor to help jurors remember previous testimony. The four people Nichols killed are shown. They are, from left, Judge Rowland Barnes, court reporter Julie Ann Brendau, Sgt. Hoyt Teasley and immigration agent David Wilhelm.

Prosecutor Clint Rucker told the jury that ife in prison is too good for Brian Nichols. Rucker said Nichols deserves to die because he killed four people and If he doesn't get the death penaly he may escape and kill again. The defense will argue that this is not true.

Christina Greenway (left) and her aunt, Trudy Brandau, react to the prosecution's video .

Brian Nichols' parents, Claritha and Gene Nichols ,listen to the defense team's final arguments on behalf of their son.

Lead defense attorney Henderson Hill argued for jurors to examine Nichols entire life -- a childhood of sexual abuse and bullying -- when making their decision.

'There is a consistent picture and that picture is not the person who walked into the chambers of Judge Barnes,' defense attorney Hill said.

Brian Nichols listens to the arguments.

1/11

The jury in the Brian Nichols trial was charged by Judge James Bodiford and went into delibrations.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Her Story Art and Food

AJC photos of the month -- January 2026

Spring Training Day 2 (Wednesday)

PHOTOS: Braves settle into day 2 of spring training

Spring Training Day 1

PHOTOS: Braves arrive for spring training

Kennesaw State University new baseball facility

PHOTOS: A look at Kennesaw State baseball's new home

More Galleries

World Cup draw party TKTKT

PHOTOS: Fans attend 2026 World Cup draw party in Atlanta

Randy Beck

'No body' homicide cases in Georgia

Stitch rendering 2025

PHOTOS: Renderings of Stitch project over Atlanta's Downtown Connector

People are silhouetted against a huge Pride flag before the start of the Atlanta Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Photos: Atlanta Pride Parade 2025