Defendant in Atlanta shootings held

MIAMI, March 15 (UPI) -- Brian Nichols, accused of four slayings in an escape from rape charges Friday, appeared in an Atlanta court Monday and was denied bail.

The hearing took place in the Fulton County Jail building under heavy security.

The hearing did not involve the four killings, but instead the original rape case, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The prosecution notified the court it would be filing murder charges against Nichols in the shooting deaths of Superior Judge Rowland Barnes, his court reporter, a Fulton County sheriff's deputy and a customs agent.

Cobb County Magistrate Judge Frank Cox presided over the proceedings because Fulton County judges had recused themselves.

Cox was chosen by a Fulton County judge and defense attorney Chris Adams said he would ask that some other authority make the selection of the judge.

Nichols, 33, shackled and surrounded by deputies, was asked if he had any questions, and he replied, "Not at this time."