Brian Nichols found guilty

Metro Atlanta

Brian Nichols found guilty

Brian Nichols was found guilty on all counts on Nov. 7, 2008 in four Fulton County Courthouse killings.

A Fulton County jury found courthouse shooter Brian Nichols guilty of the March 11, 2005 murder of four people. Nichols sat stone-faced during the reading of the guilty verdict. His attorneys argued, a defense psychologist testified, and Nichols himself claimed in a three-hour taped confession the day he was caught, that he believed he was launching a slave revolt against Fulton County, the state of Georgia, and the U.S. government.

Brian Nichols talks to defense attorney Robert McGlasson (left) after the verdict was read.

Kiley Barnes, a daughter of Fulton Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes, who was shot in his courtroom by Brian Nichols, leaves the Atlanta Municipal Court building after the verdict is announced.

Claudia Barnes, widow of Judge Rowland Barnes, is followed by cameras after the verdict was announced.

Brian Nichols and his lawyers listen to the verdict.. The jury issued a straight guilty verdict in all 54 counts. The jury could have found Nichols "guilty but mentally ill."

Brian Nichols said he considered Judge Barnes his "slave master," and all the people he killed enemy "combatants."

Deborah Teasley, widow of Sgt. Hoyt Teasley, who was shot as he pursued Brian Nichols, is surrounded by press members as she leaves the court.

Candee Wilhelm, widow of treasury agent David Wilhelm, who was killed by Brian Nichols, is escorted out of the Atlanta Municipal Court building by an employee of the district attorney's office.

Candee Wilhelm, widow of David Wilhem, listened to the verdict.

Before the verdict was read, Judge Bodiford warned the courtroom audience, which consisted largely of family members of the victims and Nichols, that anyone who had an outburst at the reading of the verdict would be sentenced to 20 days in the Fulton County jail for contempt of court. On the left is Gina Clarke, a case worker for judge Barnes. The young woman on the right is unidentified.

Brian Nichols' parents, Gene and Claritha Nichols listen to the verdict. During the trial Claritha Nichols described her son as "always a gentleman." She never saw her son argue with or mistreat any woman - much less the woman who would ultimately accuse him of a brutal rape.

Assistant District Attorney Clint Rucker (left) confers with ADA Michele McCutcheon Friday morning before the verdict.

Prosecutors listen to the verdict being read. Defense attorneys brought witness forward to testify how Nichols' state of mind began deteriorating after a long-time girlfriend broke up with him and he was charged with raping her in August 2004. The prosecution countered there wasn't anything wrong with his mind. He was just angry and seeking revenge because he feared spending the rest of his life in prison for rape. And he was conniving liar who would do or say anything to get free.

Lead prosecutor, Kellie Hill (center) confers with ADA Clint Rucker (left) confers with ADA Michele McCutcheon (right) before the jury announced its verdict.

Judge James Bodiford talked to jury Friday morning before the verdict. After the verdict was read, he sent the jury home until 8:40 a.m. Monday when the jury is scheduled to return to start deliberating whether to sentence Nichols to death or to life imprisonment. Bodiford told jurors that he expected the next phase of the trial would last until after Thanksgiving.

From left, Josh Moore, Penny Marshall, (both defense attorneys) and Brian Nichols Friday morning before the verdict. Nichols had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His case has transfixed the city, cost millions of dollars, and taken two judges to complete. Judge Hilton Fuller resigned in January and was replaced by Bodiford , who normally presides in Cobb County.

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A Fulton County jury found courthouse shooter Brian Nichols guilty of the March 11, 2005 murder of four people. Nichols sat stone-faced during the reading of the guilty verdict. His attorneys argued, a defense psychologist testified, and Nichols himself claimed in a three-hour taped confession the day he was caught, that he believed he was launching a slave revolt against Fulton County, the state of Georgia, and the U.S. government.

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