Brian Nichols: Atlanta Courthouse Killer

On March 11, 2005, Nichols was on trial for rape at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta when he overpowered a female deputy, took her gun, and went into the courtroom where he trial was being held and shot the judge and a court reporter. Nichols is also charged with killing a sheriff's deputy who tried to stop his escape from the courthouse and shooting a federal agent at his home a few miles from the courthouse.

Nichols' escape set off one of the largest manhunts in Georgia history, which ended after he took Ashley Smith hostage in her apartment and she convinced him to let her leave and then called 9-1-1.

Latest Developments

Mental Exam Ordered for Brian Nichols
June 12, 2008
A judge has ruled that prosecutors can have their own psychological expert examine Brian Nichols, who plans to claim he was insane when he shot his way out of an Atlanta courthouse in 2005.

Previous Developments

Nichols Wants New Judge Removed
April 23, 2008
Brian Nichols' defense team claims the judge should recuse himself because he was a friend of one of the victims.

Judge Keeps Jury Pool in Brian Nichols Case
April 11, 2008
The new judge in the Atlanta Courthouse Shooting case has ruled that the jury selection process will begin again in July where it left off before being interrupted by the controversy over the funding for the defense. Superior Court Judge Jim Bodiford issued a ruling that jury selection would continue July 10 from the original jury pool of 3,500.

Courthouse Shooting Judge Steps Down
Jan. 30, 2008
The controversial judge in the Atlanta Courthouse shooting trial of Brian Nichols has stepped down after a magazine article quoted him saying, "everyone in the world knows he did it."

County to Help Fund Brian Nichols' Defense
Jan. 15, 2008
The death penalty trial of accused Atlanta Courthouse killer Brian Nichols could begin again as early as mid-March after the Fulton County Commission voted to spend $125,000 to help in his defense by paying for a psychiatric evaluation.

Brian Nichols Murder Trial Delayed Again
Nov. 16, 2007
For the fifth time, the murder trial of accused Atlanta Courthouse Killer Brian Nichols has been delayed due to a lack of funds for his defense. Sticking to his guns despite growing criticism, Judge Hilton Fuller ruled that he will not start the trial until there is more money provided to Nichols' defense team.

DA Tries to Force Start of Nichols Trial
Nov. 2, 2007
The Fulton County district attorney has filed a complaint with the Georgia Supreme Court in an effort to force the judge in the Atlanta Courthouse Shootings case to resume jury selection. The complaint also seeks clarification on whether or not Judge Hilton Fuller should be removed from Brian Nichols' murder trial.

Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial to Begin
Oct. 15, 2007
Security will be tight at the Fulton County courthouse this week as the trial of Brian Nichols begins in the same building he is accused of shooting his way out of almost three years ago. Nichols was on trial for rape on March 11, 2005 when he overwhelmed a female deputy, took her gun and shot and killed four people to escape.

Lack of Money May Delay Brian Nichols' Trial
Feb. 12, 2007
The trial of Brian Nichols in the Atlanta courthouse shooting case may be delayed because the agency in charge of paying his court-appointed attorneys is out of money.

Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial Begins
Jan. 11, 2007
Although there is absolutely no doubt about the guilt of the defendant, a long, drawn out and expensive trial is scheduled to begin in the same courthouse that also happens to be the scene of the crime.

Brian Nichols Trial Delay Rejected
Dec. 22, 2006
Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller has rejected another defense motion that would have delayed the start of the trial of Brian Nichols.

Atlanta Courthouse Shooting Trial to Be Moved?
Jan 30, 2006
Attorneys for Brian Nichols have asked that his trial be moved to another courthouse, because the current one is the crime scene.

Hostage Ashley Smith Gave Nichols Meth
Sept. 28, 2005
Ashley Smith, the woman who helped authorities capture Atlanta Courthouse killer Brian Nichols, says in her new book "Unlikely Angel" that she talked with him about her faith and gave him methamphetamine during her seven-hour hostage ordeal.

Two Arrested for Murder of Ashley Smith's Husband
June 23, 2005
Four years after Daniel (Mack) Smith was stabbed to death at an August, Georgia apartment complex, two men have been indicted and arrested for the stabbing death of the husband of Ashley Smith, the woman who convinced the Atlanta courthouse killer to turn himself into police.

Death Penalty Sought for Nichols
May 5, 2005
The Fulton County district attorney will seek the death penalty for the man accused of shooting his way out of an Atlanta courthouse, leaving four people dead and setting off the largest manhunt in Georgia history.

Ashley Smith Collects $70,000 Reward
March 24, 2005
Ashley Smith was given $70,000 in reward money for helping authorities capture courthouse shooter Brian Nichols.

Hostage: 'God Brought Him to My Door'
March 14, 2005
Ashley Smith, the 26-year-old hostage who notified police that the Atlanta Courthouse Killer wanted to turned himself in, read to Brian Nichols from "The Purpose Driven Life," shared her personal faith, and prayed with him for more than seven hours in her Duluth, Georgia apartment.

Courthouse Killer Waves 'White Flag' to Surrender
March 12, 2005
Brian Nichols, the man who killed three people in a Fulton County Courtroom Friday, waved a white flag to surrender to authorities after they surrounded a Metro Atlanta Area apartment that belonged to a woman who managed to call 911.

Courthouse Killer Gives Cops the Slip
March 11, 2005
The manhunt for an Atlanta man who killed three people at the Fulton County Courthouse Friday morning became a lot more complicated when the vehicle the suspect was thought to be driving was found 14 hours later on a lower deck of the same parking from which it was supposedly stolen.