Fort Hood Massacre Trial Risks Becoming Circus
Update: Congress has proposed a bill that would suspend the pay of defendants in pre-trial confinement. The law does have other consequences, though, like the impact to family members who might depend on that income.
The trial of accused Fort Hood shooter US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan seems to run the risk of becoming a circus — if it hasn’t already.
Hasan — essentially accused of committing a terrorist act on US soil — recently fired his attorneys (one of whom had just recently publicized his readiness to defend Hasan). The lawyers apparently all then complained about being forced to advise Hasan anyway, though they have dropped their objections. Hasan then got permission to represent himself, leading some to believe he’ll use the trial as a “soapbox” for his extremist Islamic ideology. In the least, it has offended the victims and the families of those killed, as it Read more