According to broadcast reports this evening, Brian Nichols, the suspect in the Fulton County Courthouse shootings in Atlanta on March 11, has had a jailhouse conversion to Islam.

Nichols, who was indicted last Thursday on 54 charges, including four counts each of murder and felony murder, has requested -- and received -- permission to talk to a local Imam. Nichols will be allowed to pray in accordance to the tenants of Islam as well.

The indictment includes 18 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, 7 counts of kidnapping, and five counts of hijacking a motor vehicle.

As you'll remember, Nichols was being readied for a rape trial when he overpowered and severely injured his guard, entered the courtroom and shot to death Judge Rowland Barnes and the court stenographer. Nichols subsequently escaped the courthouse, killing a Fulton County Sherrif's deputy, and later killing a US Customs agent before his capture in Gwinnett County.

Fulton County DA Paul Howard has stated that he plans on requesting the death penalty in Nichols' case.

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