Later in the day, Harris reports on CNN:

The first one began at the end of February, it ended in a hung jury. Here's what's important about this. This is what might be instructive here. This jury thought the prosecution did a horrible job. The court was a terrible job in prosecuting the case against Nichols. And there were a number of jurors who felt all along that Nichols was guilty, but that the state hadn't met its burden...

These crimes are bad enough, it will be tough enough for lawyers to save Nichols' life without distorting the facts. The guy snapped, and the difference between the way the two jury trials progressed may have been a contributing factor. Hazen continued:

So in that case, the jury was not convinced that the physical evidence supported her testimony beyond a reasonable doubt. Now, I'd have to say that the second case was presented in a much more muscular fashion. There was a lot more evidence being presented in the second case. In fact, it was mostly evidence of a corroborative nature. It was not only that these allegations were made, but that there was supporting evidence to corroborate that her allegations may have been the accurate allegation, the truthful ones.

Even if the Washington Post reporter had conflicting information, he should have disclosed the acquittal reports from two participants in the trial, the defense lawyer and the jury foreperson.

One point we take issue with attorney Barry Hazen on (CNN March 12, 2005 Saturday):

HAZEN: I didn't get the sense that he could be violent until Thursday morning, when we were told by Judge Barnes (ph) that Mr. Nichols had secreted two metal objects in his shoe.

HARRIS: But Barry Hazen, who was late to court, says the talk of security was apparently just that.

HAZEN: After Judge Barnes said there would be beefed-up security in the courtroom, and there was one additional female deputy in the courtroom, that was all.

HARRIS: And what about the judge? Was there anything that could have provoked Nichols? Barry Hazen says Nichols is very, very smart. And one more thing.

HAZEN: He's not my client anymore.

Nichols is still Hazen's client on the rape charge until relieved by the Court. As such, he owes Nichols the continued duties of both confidentiality and loyalty.