It’s getting close to the end. The prosecutor and defense lawyer have started their closing arguments in the Brian Nichols’ murder trial in Atlanta. After the arguments, Judge Bodiford will instruct the jury on the relevant legal principles (often a point of contention among the lawyers). Then, it’s in the jury’s hands.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the story.
It’s been a long trial, but not nearly as long as the lawyers first predicted.
Once the verdict on the guilt/innocence phase is returned, the trial will move into the “penalty phase.” During that part of the trial, the jury will be asked to determine whether Nichols receives the death penalty (rare in Fulton County), life in prison without parole, or life with the possibility of parole (in 30 years).
Either way, expect the trial to be over well before Christmas (the judge’s goal from the beginning).
