(FOX NEWS) The military judge presiding over the court-martial of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan ruled Thursday that he can continue to represent himself, denying a bid from his legal advisors to take over his defense amid concerns the former Army psychologist is trying to sink his own case to get the death penalty.
The lawyers assisting Hasan, called “standby attorneys,” claim he is trying to get the death penalty and have said it would be “morally repugnant” to help him achieve such a sentence. Hasan admitted in his opening statement that he was the shooter, appearing to be trying to get himself convicted.
But judge Col. Tara Osborn said Thursday she believes this is “nothing more than their disagreement with Major Hasan’s trial strategy,” and ruled that the defense attorneys are required to stay on the case. The ruling prompted Hasan’s lawyers to say they would appeal, claiming the judge was forcing them to violate professional rules of conduct.
