Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
An Army psychiatrist accused of fatally shooting 13 at the Fort Hood, Texas, military base had asked for a Muslim cleric’s advice about killing U.S. troops, according to a new interview.
Retired Army Col. John Galligan, Hasan’s civilian attorney, has said his client is considering pleading not guilty by reason of insanity [at his court-martial].
"A person [prosecuted under the UCMJ] can’t be found guilty if at the time of the alleged defense, they lacked the mental capacity to be able to commit those offenses," Galligan said.
On another note:
An unnamed Yemeni official Thursday, Dec. 24 reported the death of Anwar al Awkali, imam of the mosque frequented by US. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the gunman who murdered 13 US military personnel at the Ford Hood, Texas last month. Hasan is also said to have been in email correspondence with Awkali who praised him for killing Americans for more than a year.
DEBKA file reports.