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Judge hearing McVeigh's objections to autopsy

From Gina London CNN NewsSource

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) -- A U.S. district judge will hear a request Monday from convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh to block any autopsy after his execution May 16.

McVeigh attorneys Rob Nigh and Nathan Chambers will argue the motion before U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch, the presiding judge in the Oklahoma City bombing trial.

U.S. Attorney Sean Connelly will represent the government.

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McVeigh has said he has religious and philosophical objections to an autopsy.

In Terre Haute, Indiana, where McVeigh is to be executed, Vigo County Coroner Susan Amos has informally agreed with McVeigh's attorneys that there will be no "invasive procedure" after his execution. The government is not expected to object to that agreement, but all sides are awaiting Matsch's ruling.

The judge has given no indication when he will rule on the motion.

Federal officials told CNN that they have no rules set up to cover autopsies because the last federal execution was a hanging in 1963.

"We don't have any protocol on this," said one official.

McVeigh was convicted of murder, conspiracy and weapons-related charges in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The explosion killed 168 people.

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