3 dead as man on trial for rape escapes
{{date|March 12, 2005}}

During the trial of a man yesterday for rape at an [[w:Atlanta|Atlanta]] court house, the man on trial allegedly stole the gun of a nearby deputy and shot dead the Judge, a reporter and another deputy. The suspect, [[w:Brian Nichols|Brian Nichols]] aged 33, was at court for the fourth day of his trial for numerous charges filed by a former girlfriend. Nichols was being tried a second time after his first trial ended in a hung jury (8-4 for acquittal).

After fleeing the court house Atlanta police assumed he drove away in the reporters car and issued a nation wide "look out" for the vehicle. The car was found later parked in the courthouse garage. He is still at large, and a massive police hunt is under way. The prior day to the incident, Mr. Nichols was found to have two handmade knives hidden in his shoes. Georgia prisoners often make "shanks" to try to fend off gang rapes while in custody.

There is a bounty of $60,000 for any information leading to Mr. Nichols' re-capture.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Related news==

*{{wikinews|Defendant shoots Judge, three others at Atlanta courthouse|March 11, 2005}}

==Sources==

*{{source|url=http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=271432005| title=Three shot dead by court fugitive  | author= |pub=The Scotsman|date=March 12, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.itv.com/news/world_918852.html| title=Manhunt launched after courtroom shooting | author= |pub=ITV News|date=March 12, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/11/court.security/| title=Lawyers: Court security extensive | author= |pub=CNN News|date=March 12, 2005}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Sex crimes]]
[[Category:Atlanta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state)]]

[[es:Acusado de violación mata juez y huye, en los EE.UU.]]
[[pt:Acusado de estupro mata juiz e foge, nos EUA]]
During the trial of a man yesterday for rape at an Atlanta court house, the man on trial allegedly stole the gun of a nearby deputy and shot dead the Judge, a reporter and another deputy. The suspect, Brian Nichols aged 33, was at court for the fourth day of his trial for numerous charges filed by a former girlfriend. Nichols was being tried a second time after his first trial ended in a hung jury (8-4 for acquittal).

After fleeing the court house Atlanta police assumed he drove away in the reporters car and issued a nation wide "look out" for the vehicle. The car was found later parked in the courthouse garage. He is still at large, and a massive police hunt is under way. The prior day to the incident, Mr. Nichols was found to have two handmade knives hidden in his shoes. Georgia prisoners often make "shanks" to try to fend off gang rapes while in custody.

There is a bounty of $60,000 for any information leading to Mr. Nichols' re-capture.

es:Acusado de violación mata juez y huye, en los EE.UU.
Acusado de estupro mata juiz e foge, nos EUA
United States Crime and law Sex crimes Atlanta, Georgia Georgia (U.S. state)