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Defense grills prosecution witness as drug-using liar
April 30, 1997Web posted at: 11:00 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT)
Latest developments:
DENVER (CNN) -- In a scathing cross-examination, Timothy McVeigh's defense attorney Wednesday attacked a star prosecution witness, calling her a drug abuser and a liar trying to profit from tragedy.
Moreover, lawyer Stephen Jones blasted Lori Fortier, wife of McVeigh's former Army buddy, for accepting immunity from prosecution.
And he asked her whether she was telling the truth now or when she issued earlier public statements that McVeigh was innocent of the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people.
Despite his efforts to discredit Fortier, he offered a line of questioning that suggested he believed her testimony Tuesday that McVeigh carefully planned the explosion to avenge the deadly 1993 government siege in Waco, Texas.
"If your testimony is accurate, all you had to do to prevent the deaths of 168 people was pick up a telephone?" Jones asked.
"Yes," she answered, staring at the defense table, expressionless.
"But you didn't, did you?" Jones asked.
"No," she answered.
Fortier's testimony was the most incriminating so far against McVeigh, who is accused of planting the bomb that destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah federal building on April 19, 1995.
His friend Terry Nichols is also accused in the crime and will be tried at a later date. Both face the death penalty if convicted.
The 24-year-old wife of Michael Fortier testified Tuesday that McVeigh described to her his meticulous plans for the bombing.
The Fortiers are testifying in exchange for immunity on charges that they failed to stop the deadly blast.
'I wasn't on speed'
Jones hinted Wednesday that Fortier's drug use may have affected her recollections. She told jurors she used marijuana and speed from the time she was 16 until she began cooperating with prosecutors, six years later.
"I wasn't on speed when he came and told us this," she said, referring to McVeigh's plans.
Jones tried to intimate that Fortier was coached by prosecutors, and that her familiarity with lead prosecutor Joseph Hartzler was apparent when she referred to him more than once as Joe. Later she corrected herself and called him Mr. Hartzler.
Jones accused her of trying to sell her story, but she denied that she had discussed with her husband making a "cool mil" from the case.
He also noted that she lied to investigators after the bombing and wrote two drafts of a news release claiming there was no way McVeigh could be responsible for the crime.
Jones received mixed reviews on his questioning.
"I don't think he was very successful in discrediting her story completely," legal analyst David Japha said. "He did a nice textbook cross-examination and got two or three points out for his theory."
McVeigh's sister Jennifer to testify
Given the pace of testimony, McVeigh's sister Jennifer could take the witness stand before the end of the week.
But first, prosecutors will try to link Timothy McVeigh to the purchase of ingredients to build a bomb.
Ammonium nitrate expert Paul Rydlund explained in court Wednesday that it was relatively easy to acquire the materials and to construct an ammonium nitrate-fuel oil bomb.
And, he said, it would be inexpensive. The key ingredient -- ammonium nitrate -- costs $5 for a 50-pound bag.
Prosecutors are expected to call Gregg Pfaff, who met McVeigh at gun shows, as the first witness Thursday. Pfaff will testify that McVeigh called to ask him if he could obtain some detonation cord, and that McVeigh said he was willing to drive across the country to get it.
Correspondent Tony Clark contributed to this report.
T H E B O M B I N G / C N N S T O R I E S / L I N K S
Related stories:
- McVeigh attorney attacks key prosecution witness - April 30, 1997
- Witness: McVeigh described plans to bomb federal building - April 29, 1997
- McVeigh painted as gun-loving political extremist - April 28, 1997
- First full week of testimony in Oklahoma trial - April 28, 1997
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