The Oklahoma City bombing trial

Jury finds McVeigh guilty on all 11 counts

DENVER (AP) - Timothy McVeigh was convicted on Monday of blowing up the Oklahoma City federal building in a murderous attack against his own government that awakened America to the threat of homegrown terrorism.

The 29-year-old decorated Gulf War veteran could get the death penalty for the April 19, 1995 blast that killed 168 people and injured hundreds more in the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil. The federal jury that took 23 hours over four days to convict McVeigh on all 11 counts of murder and conspiracy will return today to decide if he should pay with his life.

McVeigh showed no reaction, wearing the same steely expression he had when he was arrested. Hands clasped tightly and pressed against one cheek, elbows on the table, McVeigh remained seated as the verdict was read and stared at the judge. No one comforted him or said anything to him during the verdict reading.

As the jury was polled, the foreman stared at McVeigh the whole time and answered in a loud, firm voice, "Yes." Two jurors had very red eyes and were holding tissues in their hands and appeared close to tears.

Tears welled in the eyes of more than two dozen survivors and victims' family members as they smiled and wept at the same time. Many of them had worried that the case might result in a hung jury or even an acquittal as the deliberations dragged through the weekend.

U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch had warned the spectators before the verdict that he wouldn't tolerate any outburst. But after the judge left the bench, one man raised both fists over his head. People embraced and broke into sobs. They walked out of the courtroom hugging each other and crying.

Cheers erupted outside the courthouse and at the bombing site in Oklahoma City, where about 500 people gathered along the fence to hear the verdict read on television sets up on the sidewalk. Victims' relatives hugged and wept.

"This gentleman came to town to make an awful extreme political statement of murder and devastation. He made it. He's going to live with the responsibility that our laws provide," said Paul Heath, who was in the building at the time of the blast and has served as a spokesperson for many of the victims.

Bud Welch, whose 23-year-old daughter Julie Welch died in the bombing, said at the fence: "You heard most all of them clap. I couldn't do that because McVeigh has put us through so much and now ... I thought it'd all be joy, but it isn't. A very dull victory. The bottom line is my little girl isn't coming back and I have the rest of my life to deal with that."

In Washington, President Clinton said the verdict heralded "A very important and long overdue day for the survivors and families of those who died in Oklahoma City."

"Today, I say to the families of the victims, no single verdict can bring an end to your anguish," Clinton said in a statement. "But your courage has been an inspiration to all Americans. Our prayers are with you."

Aren Almon, whose daughter Baylee died in the blast and was carried from the building by a firefighter in one of the most famous images of the catastrophe, offered her thanks to the jury.

"I don't think they're going to regret this," Almon said.

They made the right decision. He was guilty. I hope he'll get the death penalty," Almon said.

AP PHOTO
Lead prosecutor Joseph Hartzler leaves the courthouse in Denver, Colo. on Tuesday. The penalty phase in the Timothy McVeigh bombing trial starts today.

06-04-97