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| Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan 'wants execution' - lawyer | Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan 'wants execution' - lawyer |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A standby defence lawyer for the ex-US Army psychiatrist on trial for the 2009 killing of 13 fellow US soldiers has told a judge he thinks the defendant wants to be sentenced to death. | |
| Lt Col Kris Poppe offered to step in to represent Maj Nidal Hasan, who is serving as his own lawyer at his trial. | |
| Maj Hasan, 42, admitted he was the killer in court on Tuesday. | |
| He faces 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of assault in the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. | He faces 13 counts of murder and 32 counts of assault in the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. |
| 'I'm the shooter' | 'I'm the shooter' |
| On the second day of Maj Hasan's court martial on Wednesday, Lt Col Poppe said: "His goal is to remove impediments or obstacles to the death penalty and is working toward a death penalty." | On the second day of Maj Hasan's court martial on Wednesday, Lt Col Poppe said: "His goal is to remove impediments or obstacles to the death penalty and is working toward a death penalty." |
| The defence lawyer added that if Maj Hasan insisted on working towards execution, he requested that his role in the case be minimised. | The defence lawyer added that if Maj Hasan insisted on working towards execution, he requested that his role in the case be minimised. |
| Maj Hasan, a US-born Muslim, objected to the remarks, arguing the lawyer was twisting the facts. | Maj Hasan, a US-born Muslim, objected to the remarks, arguing the lawyer was twisting the facts. |
| Judge Col Tara Osborn ordered the court cleared for the rest of the day. | Judge Col Tara Osborn ordered the court cleared for the rest of the day. |
| In his opening statement on Tuesday, which lasted just over a minute, Maj Hasan told the 13-member jury the evidence in the trial "will clearly show that I am the shooter." | In his opening statement on Tuesday, which lasted just over a minute, Maj Hasan told the 13-member jury the evidence in the trial "will clearly show that I am the shooter." |
| The prosecutor on Tuesday said Maj Hasan deliberately targeted the unarmed soldiers, who were preparing to deploy overseas, and was trying to kill as many troops as he could. | The prosecutor on Tuesday said Maj Hasan deliberately targeted the unarmed soldiers, who were preparing to deploy overseas, and was trying to kill as many troops as he could. |
| Authorities say Maj Hasan entered a medical building at Fort Hood on 5 November 2009, climbed onto a desk, shouted an Islamic benediction, and opened fire with two handguns. | Authorities say Maj Hasan entered a medical building at Fort Hood on 5 November 2009, climbed onto a desk, shouted an Islamic benediction, and opened fire with two handguns. |
| According to the prosecution, he fired 146 bullets. | According to the prosecution, he fired 146 bullets. |
| Maj Hasan wanted to plead guilty to murder and attempted murder, but military rules forbid guilty pleas in death-penalty cases. | Maj Hasan wanted to plead guilty to murder and attempted murder, but military rules forbid guilty pleas in death-penalty cases. |
| He has said he attacked to protect Muslims and Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, though Col Osborn barred him from raising that defence in his court martial. |