Oklahoma bomb conspirator jailed for life

Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols was jailed for life without the possibility of parole today for his role in the worst act of domestic terrorism in US history.

He issued a statement asking forgiveness.

Judge Steven Taylor ordered Nichols to serve the life term on each of 161 counts of first-degree murder and that the sentences run consecutively.

His sentence was pronounced after Nichols submitted a lengthy written statement in which he asked for forgiveness and offered his help in the healing process.

Nichols had already been sentenced to life without parole in 1998 on federal bombing charges.

Today’s sentencing in McAlester, was on the Oklahoma state murder counts. Nichols was spared the death penalty on the state counts when jurors could not agree on a sentence.

Nichols, aged 49, did not testify during his state and federal trials and said nothing after he was convicted in federal court.

But in today’s statement he prayed “for everyone to acknowledge God”, and to make God first in their life.

Judge Taylor called Nichols a terrorist and said the redemption and atonement he seeks is only the beginning.