Lawyers for Brian Nichols Back in Court for Motions

ATLANTA (AP) -- A motion hearing for the man charged in the Fulton County Courthouse shootings begins at 10 a.m. today.

On Friday, the state asked a judge to block defense lawyers for Brian Nichols from calling the district attorney and the lead prosecutor in the murder trial to testify at a hearing over the suspect's statements to police.

Nichols' lawyers have issued subpoenas for District Attorney Paul Howard and Assistant District Attorney Michele McCutcheon ordering them to appear at today's hearing and be ready to testify. Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller did not immediately rule on the prosecution motion.

A prosecutor testified previously that two defense lawyers were denied access to Nichols after his arrest because they did NOT represent him. Prior testimony shows that after the lawyers left the police station, Nichols gave a detailed, three-hour confession to police.

The 34-year-old Nichols has pleaded not guilty in the shootings March eleventh, 2005.

In an unrelated ruling Friday, Fuller said he has asked DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown to help him select a group of officers from around the state to provide security and jury oversight at Nichols' murder trial, set to begin January eleventh. Fuller previously granted a defense request to prevent the Fulton County Sheriff's Department from handling those duties at the trial.

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