Criminal Justice

Widow of Man Killed by Courthouse Shooter Brings Gun to Trial

By Debra Cassens Weiss

Nov 20, 2008, 08:18 am CST

The widow of one of four victims killed by a courthouse gunman brought a gun to court on Tuesday, sources told news organizations.

Security screeners outside the Atlanta courtroom confiscated the gun from Candee Wilhelm after she had already carried it past a security check at the courthouse entrance, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Wilhelm said she had forgotten the gun was in her purse and she was not arrested.

Brian Nichols was convicted of murdering Wilhelm’s husband, David, along with three others during a killing spree that began during a courthouse escape. David Wilhelm was shot at a home he and his wife were building in Buckhead. Jurors are now hearing evidence on whether Nichols should be sentenced to death.