By Becky Fogel, KWBU News for AudioTexas
FORT HOOD, TEXAS – Originally scheduled to last until Friday, pretrial hearings in the case, the US vs. Major Nidal M. Hasan concluded today.
Major Nidal Hassan appeared in military court at Fort Hood, with a full beard speckled with gray hairs. It was a dispute over his facial hair that resulted in the removal of the previous presiding judge, Colonel Gregory Gross, in early December. Now under the new judge, Colonel Tara Osborn, it appears Hasan will be able to keep his beard. However, Osborn did state that she can’t rule on whether or not being forcibly shaved would violate Hasan’s federally protected religious rights.
The decision on Hasan’s facial hair was the only major departure between the rulings of the current and prior judge during the day’s hearings. Colonel Osborn reconsidered several previously litigated issues and like Colonel Gross, denied the defense’s request for a media analyst and defense initiated victim outreach services. Osborn also denied the defense team’s motion to have the capital referral set aside, and Hasan continues to face the death penalty. And because Hasan still faces the death penalty, he cannot enter a plea in his case. Still, the defense indicated he was willing to plead guilty to what seemed to be unpremeditated murder and attempted murder. He is currently charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder.
Osborn set additional dates for pretrial hearings for February 27th and 28th. She also requested that the defense and prosecution submit possible trial start dates by February 6th.
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