By Harry R. Weber

ATLANTA (AP) — The state attorney general's office is fighting a judge's order to turn over wiretaps of reputed Ku Klux Klan members collected during the investigation of the notorious Atlanta child murders of 1979-1981.

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In a motion filed in federal court Tuesday, the attorney general's office also opposes the part of the May 31 judge's order that would give lawyers for convicted killer Wayne Williams access to juvenile records of a key witness.

Williams was convicted in 1982 of killing two young black men but was implicated in more than 20 other deaths in a killing spree that terrorized Atlanta's black community. He's serving a life sentence.

A local police chief last month reopened the investigation into five of the deaths, saying he doesn't believe Williams was involved. He was never charged in the slayings.

Williams' lawyers then went to the judge seeking access to some of the evidence. They claim the wiretaps concerning the Klan's possible involvement in the murders was withheld from Williams' defense team at his trial.

Williams' lawyers also dispute the information provided by a boy who testified during the trial that he saw Williams with one of the murder victims the last day he was seen alive. Williams' lawyers say they have proof the witness was in jail at the time.

Williams, who is black, has long contended he was framed and that Atlanta officials covered up evidence that the Klan was involved in the killings to avoid a race war.

State officials have said they believe they arrested the right man and that there is no evidence the Klan was involved. The state wants the federal court to throw out the judge's order — or at least ask Williams' lawyers to first question other agencies that might have the documents.

DeKalb County Police Chief Louis Graham said Wednesday he has not yet requested documents and evidence from Fulton County, where the bulk of the 29 slayings occurred.

Graham has said previously that he reopened the five cases in his jurisdiction in part because of his long-standing belief in Williams' innocence. He has cautioned, though, that he did not come into the case with any new evidence.