On Tuesday, Major Nidal Malik Hassan was rolled into the court in a wheelchair by a police officer. Maj. Hassan, a 40-year-old psychiatrist, is the accused in what has been described as one of the bloodiest shooting incident in a United States military history. He killed 13 and wounded 32 people when he opened fire in a medical processing centre in Fort Hood last November 5th.
Maj. Hassan, who is paralyzed waist down, looked pale and emotionless during the proceedings and made no eye contact with any of the wounded or the family of the deceased who were present.
The military hearing or Article 32 is similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian terms. The proceedings which are expected to last weeks will decide whether Maj.Hassan will face court martial or possible death penalty. The actual motive behind the shooting will be explored later in a trial. Col. James L. Pohl, the investigating officer, has asked the defense to prepare a written argument which he will look into in the morning.
Maj. Hassan was born to immigrant Palestinian parents who were not very staunch Muslims. Maj. Hassan became religious and attending the local mosque regularly after his mother’s death in 2001. He is said to have expressed deep concerns about being deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq to kill fellow Muslims. His relatives say that stress building up for a long time led to the shooting. Investigations have not revealed any links with any terrorist groups, but he had been in touch with Anwar –Al-Awlaki, radical cleric based in Yemen. He has called young recruits to the Al-Qaeda to follow Maj. Hassan’s example.
John Galligan, Maj.Hassan’s lawyer has hinted at an insanity defense. The prosecution is yet to professionally assess Maj. Hassan’s mental status.
