Fleming: 'Poor Handling Of Public Funds' In Nichols Case Needs To Be Addressed

(10/25/07) House Majority Whip Barry Fleming, named Thursday to look into the costs to taxpayers of the defense in the Brian Nichols case, says his panel will look into "poor handling of public funds."

Here's the press release announcing his appointment and his comments, along with some additional comment by the Speaker.

See our earlier story here.

Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) today announced that he will appoint a special committee to investigate Judge Hilton Fuller’s handling of the murder trial of Brian Nichols.

The speaker has appointed Majority Whip Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) to serve as chair of the committee.

“Judge Fuller and others have charged the General Assembly for what they say is a lack of funding for indigent defense, and yet there is apparently no sufficient accounting for close to two million dollars already spent," said Fleming. "How many more millions will be spent giving Brian Nichols' a defense that no one, including the taxpayers, could afford for themselves? There are serious questions about the poor handling of public funds that need to be addressed. The law provides the House that authority, and we intend to investigate the matter. "

The other members of the committee will be announced in the coming days.

“I have discussed this matter with the majority whip, and as a result of that discussion, we decided that it was time to look into the situation and determine whether there has been an abuse of the system,” said Richardson. “I am ready and willing to follow whatever recommendations the committee makes.”

A spokesman for Judge Fuller said: “It would be inappropriate for the court to comment. This is a legislative matter.”