Bomber McVeigh accuses his lawyer of `screwing up'

Bomber McVeigh accuses his lawyer of `screwing up'

Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, said his lead defence attorney, Stephen Jones, "screwed up" his case, lied to him and should be barred from handling the appeals process. McVeigh, who was silent during his trial, also told the Buffalo News he will speak at his formal sentencing in Denver today. In June McVeigh, 29, was convicted of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P Murrah federal building, which killed 168 people. The same Denver jury then sentenced McVeigh to death, and today's hearing marks the formal imposition of that sentence. McVeigh said Mr Jones, who was appointed by the court to represent him, promised to quit the case after the trial but went back on his word. "He screwed up badly, but I'm not bitter. I only want him off my appeal. It's a cultural clash between us."

Reuters -Buffalo, New York