In the courthouse stillness, Rudy Guzman felt the anguish come hurtling back. All it took was the sound of scream-filled destruction as the Alfred P. Murrah Building came crashing down.
The audio tape of the Oklahoma City bombing highlighted the first day of testimony at the murder and conspiracy trial of Terry Nichols. It was the beginning of what will likely be another emotional ride for bombing survivors who traveled to Denver to hear the case."To me, it's really emotional, especially when they played again the tape of the meeting of the water resources (board)," said Guzman, whose brother Randy, a 28-year-old Marine Corps captain, was killed in the blast.
"I wasn't there, but it felt like being there. I felt the pain just hearing that sound."
Prosecutor Larry Mackey's approach was much different from the first day of Timothy McVeigh's trial, when tearful bombing survivors took the stand. Other than the tape, there was little in the way of emotion Monday as prosecutors attempted to link Nichols to the April 19, 1995, blast that killed 168 people.
"Because there is so much emotional testimony, he's saving it for the people that will be giving it and I don't really see a problem with that," said Marsha Kight, whose daughter, Frankie Merrill, died in the bombing. "I think it comes across more when a person themselves is saying it, than when a prosecuting attorney is delivering it."
Kight and Guzman were among about 25 bombing survivors and victims' relatives at the courthouse. They were also in the courtroom in June when McVeigh was convicted of murder, conspiracy and weapons-related charges and sentenced to die.
In Oklahoma City, about 40 survivors and relatives turned out to watch the trial on a closed-circuit telecast. Rescuer Terry Hamilton was among them.
"Even after all this time gone by, it's still moving," said Hamilton, who rushed to the scene of twisted metal and crumbled concrete that day.
Convicting Nichols may be more difficult, survivors said, since he was not in Oklahoma City the day of the bombing, a point defense attorney Michael Tigar made much of on Monday. Prosecutors have acknowledged that, but contend Nichols still played a major role.
"I think there's enough evidence to support the conviction," Kight said. "As far as the death penalty, I think that will be a little more difficult."