[JURIST] Rape defendant and accused killer Brian Nichols [Wikipedia profile] pleaded not guilty in Atlanta's Fulton County Courthouse [backgrounder] Tuesday to multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, escape, and other charges in connection with the March 11 shootings [JURIST report] at the same courthouse when he allegedly overpowered a deputy sheriff, stole her gun, and then shot presiding judge Rowland Barnes [Wikipedia profile] and a court reporter. Nichols is also accused of killing two law enforcement officers during his flight, which prompted the largest manhunt in Georgia state history. Prosecutors want to have the trial held in Fulton County but Nichols' attorney has questioned whether he could receive a fair trial there. Reuters has more.