Prosecutors Seek Life Term for Nichols

Federal prosecutors urged a judge in a Denver courtroom to sentence Terry L. Nichols to life behind bars for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing, calling a defense motion seeking a four-year prison sentence “absurd.” Prosecutor Sean Connelly petitioned U.S. District Judge Richard P. Matsch to hand Nichols the harshest possible penalty. Connelly’s request came in response to a motion by Nichols’ attorneys that he should serve four to six years in prison for the April 19, 1995, bombing that killed 168 people and injured 500. Nichols, 42, was convicted last month of conspiracy and manslaughter but acquitted of murder and weapons charges.