Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist charged in the November 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, is returning to court this morning.
It is still unclear if military judge Col. Tara Osborn will rule on Hasan’s motion to plead guilty to murder charges that don’t carry the death penalty.
Lawyers for the Army Major are requesting his murder trial be moved off the Army post and is also looking for changes in the military jury pool.
Original Story: Maj. Nidal Hasan has been charged with killing 13 people and dozens wounded at Fort Hood in November 2009. If convicted, Hasan could face the death penalty or life without parole in military prison.
Col. Tara Osborn, the present judge in charge of the case, is replacing Col. Gregory Gross, who was removed by an appeals court. The defense team argued that Gross was biased against their client.
According to military court, here’s what will be considered in the pretrial hearing:
1) Should the defense receive the services of a media analyst at government expense, 2) Should the defense receive defense initiated victim outreach services at government expense, 3) Should previous protective orders be modified, 4) Should the capital referral be set aside because of alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 36 (concerning the President's rule-making authority) and the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause, and 5) A defense request for appropriate relief concerning the UCMJ's Article 45(b).
