McALESTER, Okla. - Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols, who escaped the death penalty when a federal jury deadlocked on a life or death sentence, was spared the death penalty a second time Friday when a state jury said it was at an impasse.
The deadlock, announced after Nichols' jury deliberated his sentence for about 1912 hours over three days, was a blow to state prosecutors and victims' family members who said death was the appropriate punishment for the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building.
Nichols faced sentences of life in prison or death by lethal injection on state murder convictions. The jury impasse means Nichols will be sentenced by Judge Steven Taylor, who is required by law to sentence Nichols to life in prison.
Taylor set the sentencing for Aug. 9.
Jurors began deliberating Nichols' fate Wednesday after emotional testimony in the trial's sentencing phase. Jurors convicted Nichols of 161 state murder counts May 26.
Nichols, 49, escaped death row after a federal trial in 1997 in which he was acquitted of murder but convicted of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of eight federal law enforcement officers.
A federal jury deliberated 1312 hours over two days before deadlocking over whether Nichols should be given a death sentence or a life term. U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch then sentenced Nichols to life in prison without the possibility of parole.