Fort Hood Shooting Suspect, Maj. Nidal Hasan, to Face Court Martial, Possible Death Penalty
The suspect in the November 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood will be tried in a general court martial and could face the death penalty if convicted.
This means that Major Nidal Hasan, 40, an Army psychiatrist, likely will not be able to make a plea bargain before trial concerning the 13 individuals killed and 32 wounded in the shooting spree at the Texas base, according to the Associated Press and CNN’s This Just in blog.
Hasan’s government-appointed lawyer, John Galligan, who had argued against making this a capital case, said he wasn’t told in advance before today’s announcement or given related documents.
“It is a sad, sad day to see how they are proceeding,” he told CNN in a telephone interview. “They continue to use these tactics that are a denigration of the defendant’s right to due process.”
It isn’t clear when Hasan will be arraigned and enter a plea on the 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder he faces, the AP notes.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Lawyer for Alleged Fort Hood Shooter Questions Whether He Can Get a Fair Trial”
ABAJournal.com: Report Shows Fort Hood Massacre Could Have Been Prevented By FBI and Army, Senator Says”“
BBC News: “Fort Hood: Nidal Hasan to face court martial”
