A judge says an Army psychiatrist charged in the deadly 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage is mentally OK to represent himself at his upcoming murder trial.
However, presiding judge Col. Tara Osborn said Maj. Nidal Hasan will require a physical examination before he would be approved to defend himself during the trial.
The exam and medical report are to be completed by May 31, after which another hearing will be held on this matter June 3.
Osborn has also asked Hasan’s attorneys to stay through her final decision on whether Hasan will be acting in his own defense. Attorneys could be requested to stay even longer, and throughout the entire trial, in case Hasan asks for their help.
Hasan could face the death penalty, or life in prison without parole, if convicted. He faces 13 charges of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the attack on the Texas Army post.
Jury selection is to begin next week. It’s expected to last about four weeks with testimony starting in early July.