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Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan 'wants execution' - lawyer | Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan 'wants execution' - lawyer |
(about 5 hours 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 on to 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. | 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. |