U.S.

McVeigh Requests Execution Date

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

December 12, 2000 / 3:28 PM EST / CBS

Timothy McVeigh, who was sentenced to death for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, has asked a federal judge to halt any appeals in his case and to set an execution date, according to a document made public on Tuesday.

"I believe I am fully competent to make this decision. If the court thinks that a psychological evaluation is necessary to make certain that I am competent, I will submit to such an evaluation," McVeigh, 32, said in an affidavit filed with the court late Monday. He gave no reason for his decision, and his attorney Dennis Hartley also declined to comment on the reason.

U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Chris Watney made no comment.

McVeigh asked that the execution date be set within 120 days of his statement, which was dated Dec. 7.

It's not clear whether such a date is possible. President Clinton last week issued a six-month stay to the first scheduled federal execution in 37 years, which was planned for Dec. 12, pending a Justice Department review of sentencing practices.

McVeigh also said that he was only waiving his right to appeal in the court system and was not waiving his right to petition for executive clemency.

McVeigh was convicted of murder and conspiracy and sentenced to death in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that killed 168 people and injured more than 500.

His former Army buddy Terry Nichols was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for manslaughter and conspiracy.