Hasan to face death penalty

[B_J 2,752]

The commanding general at Ft. Hood today referred the case of the major charged with the November 2009 massacre at the sprawling Army post to a court martial, and ruled that the panel may consider the death penalty, 1200 WOAI news has learned.

Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell, Jr says he made his decision after considering evidence presented last year at Maj. Nidal Hasan's Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a grand jury, as well as the recommendations of psychiatrists who have examined Hasan in his jail cell.

"The court martial is authorized to consider death as a punishment," Campbell said.

Hasan's attorney, John Galligan, said he wasn't surprised by today's announcement.

"This thing has been choreographed a long time ago," he said. "We're just seeing the various event plays out."

Hasan is charged with 13 specifications of premeditated murder and 32 specifications of premeditated murder, in connection with a rampage at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009. 65 witnesses took the stand at the Article 32 hearing, and most identified Hasan as the man who jumped up on a table, and then opened fire with a laser guided pistol, stopping frequently to reload.

Hasan has been held for the past 18 months in a specially constructed medical cell at the Bell County Jail in Belton. He was left paralyzed from the chest down when he was shot four times by Ft. Hood security guards who ended his rampage. He appeared at the Article 32 hearing in a wheelchair with a blanked covering his legs, and responded in short comments, saying 'yes, sir' when he was asked if he understood the charges against him.

The hearing officer recommended the court martial consider the death penalty, but the final decision is up to the post commander.

Galligan declined to comment on the strategy he will use at the trial, or whether he will enter an insanity plea on behalf of his client. Federal investigators have said Hasan, who was an Army psychiatrist, had been engaging in an e-mail correspondence with a radical Islamic cleric based in Yemen. Galligan has claimed that the trial will be an attempt for the Army to skirt responsibility for not identifying Hasan as a threat sooner, and simply passing him through the system rather than confronting him.

"As you know, the law imposes substantial limitations on what the defense can do, or the kind of forum that will take place, you are not even allowed to enter a plea of guilty. The rules are completely different."

Ft. Hood didn't say when the court martial will take place or where it will be held, but Galligan suspects the trial will take place at Ft. Hood.

"The scuttlebutt around the post is that that's where the trial will happen," he said. "All you have to do is look at what they've done around here, the logistical improvements they have made."

The next step is for Hasan to be arraigned and to have the charges formally read aloud to him in open court.

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[Ban Hammer 13,552]

[Saddle Bronc 124]

:thumbs:

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wouldn't go that far but I'll say that the death penalty says that killing can be just. It's a bad message.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

I will cry for this ####### as loud and long as I cried over killing OBL.

[slim 1,533]

What's a laser guided pistol?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

What's a laser guided pistol?

Did you see the nightclub scene in Terminator I? That shows an example.

[SMOKE 1,426]

What's a laser guided pistol?

http://www.crimsontrace.com/

[jundp 191]

I wouldn't go that far but I'll say that the death penalty says that killing can be just. It's a bad message.

It's government-sanctioned murder. I don't think what this man did was right -- I think it was a heinous crime. But I don't support the death penalty.

This is where Charles tells me I'm a DFH

[Captain Oates 911]

It's government-sanctioned murder. I don't think what this man did was right -- I think it was a heinous crime. But I don't support the death penalty.

This is where Charles tells me I'm a DFH

If I was in an American prison and paralyzed, I would actually pay for someone to bump me off

I might even become religious and pray for it

If people wanted to be really vindictive, they would insist he live out his life like he is now - which must be worse than sleeping with Larry King forever

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This is where Charles tells me I'm a DFH

That's okay. Us DFHs are in much better company than the other guys. Death penalty proponents are aligned with a crowd that I wouldn't go near in terms of regard for human life. Interestingly, most of them also call themselves pro-life. And, despite the fact that capital punishment is - from a purely fiscal point of view - the most expensive form of punishment, they also most often like to think of themselves as fiscal conservatives. These are forms of mental spagat that I am incapable of.

Edited July 7, 2011 by Mr. Big Dog

[Captain Oates 911]

That's okay. Us DFHs are in much better company than the other guys. Death penalty proponents are aligned with a crowd that I wouldn't go near in terms of regard for human life. Interestingly, most of them also call themselves pro-life. And, despite the fact that capital punishment is - from a purely fiscal point of view - the most expensive form of punishment, they also most often like to think of themselves as fiscal conservatives. These are forms of mental spagat that I am incapable of.

What's happened to the world ? I haven't posted for many weeks and all the red neck, gun totin', hang-em-highs have disappeared and been replaced by normal people - have I logged on to VJ UK in error ?

Do you people eat with knives AND forks now ?

Edited July 7, 2011 by Alan the Red

[mawilson 2,133]

That's okay. Us DFHs are in much better company than the other guys. Death penalty proponents are aligned with a crowd that I wouldn't go near in terms of regard for human life. Interestingly, most of them also call themselves pro-life. And, despite the fact that capital punishment is - from a purely fiscal point of view - the most expensive form of punishment, they also most often like to think of themselves as fiscal conservatives. These are forms of mental spagat that I am incapable of.

Many states have abolished the death penalty, so it's not like we're all red.

[Captain Oates 911]

Many states have abolished the death penalty, so it's not like we're all red.

Yep here on the west we can even kill ourselves (youth-in-asia)without being jailed for it afterwards

If mr hasan got a transfer here to oregon/washington, he could asked to be popped off with some bar-bitcher-rates which is a lot better than being water boarded to death

Edited July 7, 2011 by Alan the Red