FORT HOOD, Texas – In the case of U.S. v. Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, the panel returned a verdict with a unanimous finding of guilty to the original charges of 13 counts of premeditated murder and guilty of 32 counts of the additional charges of attempted premeditated murder.
Hasan was convicted for the deadly 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, an assault against American troops at an American military base in Texas by one of their own who said he opened fire on fellow soldiers to protect Muslim insurgents abroad.
Because each of the 13 premeditated murder convictions authorize the death penalty, the law required the panel to report if its findings were unanimous for those counts only.
A unanimous finding of guilt to premeditated murder allows the death penalty to remain a possible sentence.
The sentencing phase of the court-martial began with an Article 39a hearing at 3 p.m. Aug. 23 and will reconvene at 9 a.m. Aug. 26.
During the afternoon Aug. 23 hearing, Judge (Col.) Tara Osborn and the parties worked out procedures for the sentencing phase of the trial.
Hasan was asked if he still wanted to defend himself given that he now faces a possible death sentence by the judge. Hasan affirmed that he wishes to continue with defending himself.
