Court killings suspect in court

Brian Nichols' hands and ankles were shackled

A rape defendant suspected of killing four during a US courthouse shooting last week has returned to court to hear they plan to charge him with murder.

Brian Nichols was surrounded by 19 guards as he heard new charges against him at Fulton County court in Atlanta.

He is accused of shooting dead a high court judge and three others after seizing a gun from the deputy sheriff, then fleeing the courtroom on Friday.

A 26-hour manhunt followed, during which he took a local woman hostage.

Mr Nichols was shackled at his wrists and ankles as the judge told him the court planned to charge him with four murders.

Manhunt

He is accused of killing Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes, a court stenographer and a county sheriff when he went on a rampage in the courtroom.

He is believed to have shot dead a customs official later as he went on the run.

A multi-state manhunt followed for the 33-year-old man.

He was finally found after a woman he had been holding hostage called the police.

Ashley Smith, 26, was held for seven hours in her apartment after Mr Nichols followed her in, but was eventually freed so that she could go to see her young daughter.

Mr Nichols, who could face the death penalty for the murder charges against him, will also stand trial for the original charges of rape, assault and false imprisonment.