A defamation claim against The Lebanon Enterprise was dismissed Sept. 5 in Marion Circuit Court.

Judge Doughlas George signed an order dismissing the claim filed by convicted murderer David Nichols against the newspaper, editor and general manager Stevie Daugherty, advertising manager Mary Anne Blair, and the insurance company providing coverage to the other defendants.

Nicholas had filed the suit based on an advertisement published in the Aug. 17, 2007 edition of the Enterprise. He accused the paper of slander, defamation of character, and emotional distress.

The ad was printed in memory of Joshua Kenneth Wright, who died Aug. 19, 2000, at the age of 18, after Nichols stabbed him in the chest.

Nichols was convicted of wanton murder in January 2002 with the jury recommending a life sentence.

Jim Adams, the attorney for the Enterprise, argued that truth is a defense against defamation, and since nothing printed about Nichols was untrue, his complaint should be dismissed.