Nidal Hasan, Ft Hood shooter, forced to wear military uniform after saying it represents an ‘enemy of Islam’
The Army psychiatrist turned terrorist on trial for the the deadly 2009 Fort Hood shooting wants to tell potential jurors that he’s being forced to wear a military uniform he believes represents “an enemy of Islam,” he told a judge Tuesday.
Hours before jury selection was to begin in Major Nidal Hasan’s court-martial, last-minute issues were addressed at a morning hearing. It’s unclear if the judge, Col. Tara Osborn, will allow him to make that statement to potential jurors.
Hasan, an American-born Muslim, must wear a uniform during his murder trial. Military defendants usually wear a dress uniform during a court-martial. However, both sides and the judge have agreed that Hasan can wear a camouflage uniform worn by troops in combat because it better meets his health-related needs as a paraplegic.
Hasan, age 42, was paralyzed from the abdomen down after being shot by police the day of the rampage and now faces execution or life without parole if convicted in the rampage that killed 13 and wounded nearly three dozen on the Texas Army post.
The first pool of 20 potential jurors, three majors, five lieutenant colonels and 12 colonels, were to be brought in Tuesday afternoon from Army posts nationwide.
Hasan, who is serving as his own attorney but can get help from his former defense attorneys, will have a jury consultant on hand. Jury selection is expected to last at least a month, and once testimony starts in August, that could take another two months.
He attempted to plead guilty, but is not allowed because it’s capital case. The Fort hood shooter was permitted to keep his long beard, nicknamed a “terrorist beard” and still collects his military salary, now over $275K since the shooting.
