This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23584265

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fort Hood shooting: Major Nidal Hasan to go on trial Fort Hood shooting: Nidal Hasan says 'I am the gunman'
(about 13 hours later)
The military trial of a former US Army psychiatrist who killed 13 and injured more than 30 in a 2009 rampage at a Texas army base begins on Tuesday. A former US Army psychiatrist who killed 13 soldiers at an Army base in Texas in 2009 said evidence would show he was the gunman, on the opening day of his military trial at Fort Hood.
Major Nidal Hasan, who is defending himself, has admitted the killings, but argues he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Maj Nidal Hasan, 42, apologised for "mistakes" while saying the evidence told only one side of the story.
However, a military judge has already rejected his "defence of others" claim. Maj Hasan has said he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
If convicted on 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder, the 42-year-old faces the death penalty. If convicted for 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of attempted murder, the US-born Muslim could face execution.
The killings are viewed as the deadliest ever non-combat attack on an American military base. "The evidence will clearly show that I am the shooter," Maj Hasan told the jury of 13, including nine colonels, three lieutenant colonels and one major.
Witnesses say that on 5 November 2009, Maj Hasan entered a crowded Fort Hood medical building, where deploying soldiers were awaiting check-ups and vaccines. He added: "We are imperfect Muslims trying to establish the perfect religion."
He then climbed on to a desk, shouted an Islamic benediction and opened fire with two handguns, pausing only to reload, witnesses said. The killings are the deadliest ever non-combat attack on an American military base.
His trial will take place at the same military base, near Killeen, Texas, where he carried out the attacks.
'Workplace violence''Workplace violence'
A jury of 13 - nine colonels, three lieutenant colonels and one major - will consider evidence in the case. As the court martial opened on Tuesday, prosecutor Col Steve Henricks said Maj Hasan deliberately targeted "unarmed, unsuspecting and defenceless soldiers" when he opened fire, and planned to "kill as many soldiers as he could".
Maj Hasan was about to be deployed to Afghanistan when he carried out the attacks. Judge Col Tara Osborn has already barred Maj Hasan from arguing the attack was undertaken in "defence of others", ruling there was no evidence the soldiers at the base posed any threat to the Taliban leadership - and declaring the justice of the US-led war in Afghanistan would not be up for debate in the court.
Col Osborn has also said Maj Hasan will not be allowed to make speeches about his beliefs or try to testify himself while questioning witnesses.
Witnesses say that on 5 November 2009, Maj Hasan entered a crowded Fort Hood medical building where deploying soldiers were awaiting check-ups and vaccines.
He climbed onto a desk, shouted an Islamic benediction, and opened fire with two handguns, pausing only to reload, witnesses said.
His trial will take place at the same military base near Killeen, Texas, where he carried out the attacks.
Maj Hasan was about to be deployed to Afghanistan.
The prosecution is expected to present evidence of the US-born soldier's radicalisation, including internet searches for "Jihad" and "Taliban" hours before the shootings.The prosecution is expected to present evidence of the US-born soldier's radicalisation, including internet searches for "Jihad" and "Taliban" hours before the shootings.
The Pentagon has treated the case as workplace violence, rather than an act of terrorism, a legal distinction that has angered victims and family members, says the BBC's Nick Bryant at Fort Hood. The Pentagon has treated the case as an act of workplace violence, rather than an act of terrorism, a legal distinction that has angered victims and family members, says the BBC's Nick Bryant at Fort Hood.
Many of those wounded in the attack are expected to testify. Many of those wounded in the attack are expected to testify and may be cross-examined by Maj Hasan, who is acting as his own attorney.
Maj Hasan will represent himself at the court martial, which means he will have the opportunity to cross-examine his own victims. He uses a wheelchair after being paralysed when he was shot in the back by a base police sergeant who responded to the shootings.
He uses a wheel chair after being paralysed when he was shot in the back by a base police sergeant who responded to the shootings. The trial has been delayed by a series of requests for preparation or other issues, including an objection by prosecutors to Maj Hasan's beard, which contravenes military regulations but he was ultimately allowed to keep.
Judge Colonel Tara Osborn has denied him the "defence of others" strategy, in which he would have argued that he was protecting insurgents fighting American soldiers in Afghanistan.
She ruled there was no evidence of "any immediate threat to others" from US soldiers on base.
Judge Osborn has also said he will not be able to make speeches about his beliefs or try to testify himself when he is questioning witnesses.
The trial has been delayed by a series of requests for preparation or other issues, including an objection to Maj Hasan's beard, which was ruled to violate military regulations.
Analysts say the military prosecutors are being extra cautious in order to avoid anything that could lead to a reversal of a guilty verdict.Analysts say the military prosecutors are being extra cautious in order to avoid anything that could lead to a reversal of a guilty verdict.
If found guilty and sentenced to death, Maj Hasan would have multiple automatic appeals available to him. If found guilty and sentenced to death, Maj Hasan would have multiple automatic appeals available to him. And even if those are ultimately unsuccessful it could be decades before any eventual execution.