Botching The Big Case

Sunday, May. 13, 2001 By NANCY GIBBS

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Even if the FBI's conduct proves to have been more careless than venal, the charges call attention to more serious problems that have led to 95 exonerations in capital cases since 1973, problems such as corrupt prosecutors, lying jailhouse snitches, incompetent forensic experts, junk science and racial prejudice. Will people be prepared to support the next execution if they have even the faintest doubts about the last?

On Friday there were more visitors than usual to the memorial at the site of the bombing in Oklahoma City. Ellen Bailey, 74, hoped that the extra time "might help convince McVeigh to say he's sorry." For his part, her son Larry is typical of many others: he opposes the death penalty but not this time. "I'm for it. I'm hoping it will give the victims closure." Beth Carpenter had worked in the building until the month before the bombing and lost scores of friends. She was distraught at the news of the delay. "He deserves to be executed," she said. "I don't want to see him anymore." As for McVeigh, he could look forward to some long sessions with his lawyers and boxes and boxes of papers. But if last week just delayed the inevitable, he is ready. He had worked out all the details, down to where he wanted his ashes scattered. His lawyers deny rumors that he wants them left at the scene of his crime.

With reporting by Reported By James Carney, Michael Duffy, Viveca Novak And Elaine Shannon/ Washington, Wendy Cole/Oklahoma City And Desa Philadelphia And Amanda Ripley/New York