First day of Ft. Hood trial; jury selection

[Reba]

The Army psychiatrist charged in the deadly 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage declined to ask potential jurors any questions Tuesday as jury selection finally began in his long-awaited murder trial.

Maj. Nidal Hasan, who is serving as his own attorney, didn't take notes or confer with his former defense attorneys who will help if he asks. During the nearly two-hour proceeding with the first group of 20 potential jurors, Hasan sat quietly in his wheelchair as the judge gave preliminary instructions and read about 300 witness names to find out if any of the Army officers knew them.

Hasan, 42, faces execution or life without parole if convicted of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 count of attempted premeditated murder.

Maj. Larry Downend, one of the prosecutors, asked the group if they agreed that the defendant's choice of weapon and a motive could show premeditation. Everyone in the group nodded yes.

All officers indicated they had no moral opposition to imposing a death sentence, but also said they didn't believe execution was the only punishment for someone convicted of premeditated murder.

After the group from Army posts nationwide was questioned by the judge and prosecutors, Hasan said he had no questions for the jury pool.

Six potential jurors were dismissed at prosecutors' request, based on some of their answers in court Tuesday and to the lengthy jury questionnaires they turned in weeks ago. One officer said he knew one of the 13 killed on Nov. 5, 2009.

The judge, Col. Tara Osborn, told the group that Hasan was wearing a camouflage uniform worn by troops in combat instead of a dress uniform--usually worn by defendants in a court-martial--because it better meets his health-related needs as a paraplegic. Hasan was paralyzed from the abdomen down after being shot by police the day of the rampage.

Osborn told potential jurors not to hold his type of uniform against him.

At a hearing earlier Tuesday, Hasan said he wanted jurors to know that he was being forced to wear a uniform that he believes represents "an enemy of Islam." Hasan, an American-born Muslim, had said he didn't want to wear either military uniform.

Before jury selection began, Osborn told Hasan that she would not relay that to the jury pool but that he could during his questioning.

Osborn also told the group that Hasan was wearing a beard for his religious beliefs and not to hold it against him. Although facial hair violates Army rules, Hasan started growing a beard last summer, saying it was required by his Muslim faith.

The judge said security measures at the courthouse were "for all trial participants" and told jurors not to consider that as any evidence in the case.

The one-story courthouse on the edge of the Texas Army post is surrounded by hundreds of stacked freight car-size shipping containers, and by tall dirt- and sand-filled barriers designed to protect it against the impact of a bomb blast. Armed soldiers stand guard around the building.

Individual questioning of potential jurors was to start Wednesday. Jury selection is expected to last at least a month.

Groups of 20 will be brought in each week until 13 jurors are chosen for Hasan's trial. The initial jury pool was 140 officers, but because of several trial delays, some have left the military through retirement or their service ending, Fort Hood officials said. It's unclear how many potential jurors remain.

Death-penalty cases in the military require at least 12 jury members, more than in other cases. And unlike other trials, their verdict must be unanimous in finding guilt or assessing a sentence.

Six potential jurors dismissed in first day of Fort Hood murder trial | Fox News

 

[TXgolfer]

Hope they can find jurors quickly.

 

[Reba]

Trial of "work place violence" (gag) starts today.

 

[VacationGuy234]

The trial is interesting because Hasan will be directly crossing witnesses. If you look on the net, you can find twitter feeds directly from the trial.

I think Hasan's whole goal is to further the jhad through the news rather than get himself found not guilty. It will be interesting to see how the judge controls this trial as I'm sure he does not know the rules of court as well as a lawyer. And, each judge treats his/her court differently.

 

[Reba]

The trial is interesting because Hasan will be directly crossing witnesses. If you look on the net, you can find twitter feeds directly from the trial.

I think Hasan's whole goal is to further the jhad through the news rather than get himself found not guilty. It will be interesting to see how the judge controls this trial as I'm sure he does not know the rules of court as well as a lawyer. And, each judge treats his/her court differently.

I think it's disgusting that Hasan can speak directly to the very persons that he shot at. Yes, I know it's his legal right but it's still disgusting. As if he hasn't done enough damage to them already.

 

[whatdidyousay!]

I think it's disgusting that Hasan can speak directly to the very persons that he shot at. Yes, I know it's his legal right but it's still disgusting. As if he hasn't done enough damage to them already.

I agree! It seens like the one that commit the crimes has more rights in court.

 

[Reba]

Two witnesses:

...Staff Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford, who was wounded, is expected to testify. He said he looked forward to seeing Hasan, in a way.
"I'm not going to dread anything. That's a sign of fear," Lunsford said. "That man strikes no fear in my heart. He strikes no fear in my family. What he did to me was bad. But the biggest mistake that he made was I survived. So he will see me again."
But Staff Sgt. Shawn Manning said he dreaded the expected confrontation.
"I have to keep my composure and not go after the guy," said Manning, a mental health specialist who was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan with Hasan. "I'm not afraid of him, obviously. He's a paralyzed guy in a wheelchair, but it's sickening that he's still living and breathing…."

Read more: Fort Hood trial turns bizarre as shooter grills witnesses | Fox News

 

[Reba]

The military had to spend $5million for security for the trial.

...n Tuesday, guards stood watch with long assault rifles outside the courthouse. A long row of shipping freight containers, stacked three high, created a fence around the building, which was almost entirely hidden by 15-foot-tall stacks of heavy, shock-absorbing barriers that extend to the roofline.

Read more: Fort Hood trial turns bizarre as shooter grills witnesses | Fox News

They have to fly Hasan to court from the jail to the court by helicopter.

 

[Reba]

Thirteen people were killed in the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Here are their stories:

_ Michael Grant Cahill, 62, of Cameron, Texas. Cahill was a physician assistant and civilian employee who had returned to work the previous week after suffering a heart attack two weeks earlier. Born in Spokane, Wash., he helped treat soldiers returning from tours of duty or preparing for deployment. He and his wife had been married 37 years.

_Maj. Libardo Eduardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va. Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, he had a doctorate in psychology from the University of Arizona and worked with bilingual special-needs students at Tucson-area schools before entering private practice. He had just arrived at Fort Hood and was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. He was a father of three.

_Staff Sgt. Justin M. DeCrow, 32, from Evans, Ga. He was helping train soldiers on how to help new veterans with paperwork. He had arrived at Fort Hood in September 2009 after being stationed for a year in Korea. Married and father of a teenage daughter, he was first stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga., where his wife had hoped he would return when a posting there became open.

_Capt. John Gaffaney, 56, from San Diego County, Calif. Gaffaney was a psychiatric nurse for more than 20 years and had arrived at Fort Hood the day before the shooting to prepare for a deployment to Iraq. A native of Williston, N.D., he had served in the Navy and later the California National Guard. Married and father to a son, he supervised a team of six social workers at San Diego County's Adult Protective Services Department.

_Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn. Known as "Freddie," he was a combat engineer based at Fort Hood and preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. He was married with two daughters. His family said he exemplified the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

_Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, 22, of Frederick, Okla. Known as J.D., he'd been married for two months. He served 3 1/2 years in the Army including a stint in Iraq. He had re-enlisted in the Army for six years after serving his initial two-year assignment and previously was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga.

_Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis. She joined the Army after the 2001 terrorist attacks, had arrived at Fort Hood two days before the shootings and was set for deployment to Afghanistan in December 2009. Her mother said she had vowed to take on Osama bin Laden. Her family described her as highly competitive in sports and with a smile that would light up any room.

_Pfc. Aaron Thomas Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. He joined the Army instead of going on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to an uncle. He was the youngest of four children in his family and was to be deployed to Afghanistan in January 2010.

_Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, Bolingbrook, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. He quit what he believed was a dead-end furniture company job to join the military about a year earlier. His mother said she spoke with him two days before the shooting and they talked about how he would be home for Christmas the following month. She hadn't seen him for a year while he was in training.

_Capt. Russell Seager, 51, of Racine, Wis. Seager joined the Army a few years earlier to help veterans returning to civilian life. He'd worked with soldiers at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Milwaukee who were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and also taught classes at Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee. Married and with a son, he was at Fort Hood for training in advance of a December deployment to Afghanistan.

_Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago. Known to her friends as "Cheka," she was pregnant and preparing to return home after deployment to Iraq. She had been back in the U.S. for three days. Velez was planning a lifelong career in the Army, family members said. One of her high school teachers said she hoped to become a psychologist.

_Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. Warman was a military physician assistant with two daughters and six grandchildren. She had volunteered with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, a reintegration program for Maryland National Guard soldiers returning from deployment overseas, providing mental health counseling and helping develop a program about the myths and realities of post-traumatic stress disorder. She was preparing for deployment to Iraq.

_Pfc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn. Xiong was married and father of three young children. His family has a history of military service and his father, from Laos, fought the Viet Cong with the CIA in 1972. He was among 11 siblings who came to the U.S. as a toddler, grew up in California and then moved to Minnesota. He was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan.

 

[Reba]

Meanwhile, the victims suffer. Staff Sgt. Josh Berry, who was shot by Hasan in the attack, committed suicide on Feb. 13, 2013. His father, Howard Berry, told NBC 5: “He felt there were more considerations that were being given to the shooter that weren’t being given to the victims and he couldn’t understand.”

Howard Berry added that Josh was extremely upset the Army denied the Fort Hood victims Purple Heart medals and other combat-related benefits, while the Army denied that Hasan’s act was a terrorist attack. Fort Hood shooting victim Logan Burnett, who was shot three times, agreed, telling NBC 5, “The day that came out was the day the government looked at every single one of the victims of the Fort Hood shooting and spit in our faces, literally spit in our faces.”

Accused Fort Hood Shooter Gets Special Treatment; Victims Suffer

 

[Tousi]

Reba what's the rationale for the government's treatment of the victims?

 

[VacationGuy234]

I think it's disgusting that Hasan can speak directly to the very persons that he shot at. Yes, I know it's his legal right but it's still disgusting. As if he hasn't done enough damage to them already.

I may feel the same way, but, truly, that's a fair court system. If more people could explain their actions, I think there would be more believability in the justice system. Instead, we have people hired to get around the truth

All victims have a tough time ahead, there is no argument. I believe, if we do it right, the victims should get some satisfaction from the trial. After all, that's what a trial is designed to do, give restitution and closure to those involved.

 

[Reba]

Reba what's the rationale for the government's treatment of the victims?

I believe if it were up to the military only, the victims would be treated like war casualties, with full benefits. However, it's become political and that's what made the shooting an act of work place violence instead.

The DoD claims that declaring it a terrorist attack would prejudice the court martial against Hasan. That's baloney (in my opinion).

 

[Foxrac]

Why it took 4 years to have trial?

 

[Reba]

Why it took 4 years to have trial?

Normally, courts martial don't take that long. Usually it takes 6-9 months. The problem this time is that everything had to be run thru Washington first. For example, the question whether or not Hasan could wear a beard had to go thru the Pentagon and Washington. That was another delay.

One other slow down was that they had to wait for him to be physically able for trial.

Another complication was that he fired his attorneys. More games to play.

 

[Jiro]

Why it took 4 years to have trial?

Normally, courts martial don't take that long. Usually it takes 6-9 months. The problem this time is that everything had to be run thru Washington first. For example, the question whether or not Hasan could wear a beard had to go thru the Pentagon and Washington. That was another delay.

One other slow down was that they had to wait for him to be physically able for trial.

Another complication was that he fired his attorneys. More games to play.

yes. typical quibbling.

 

[Reba]

yes. typical quibbling.

Quibbling is not typical for courts martial and NJPs. This is unusual because of all the political interference.

 

[TinCanSailor]

When I was on active duty (Navy), My job was to preparing paperwork before and after trial NJP (Non Judicial Punishment) which is given out by a commanding officer of a unit or command. I did those throughout my career. I also did a little investigative work on service member deaths for a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer at the base legal department here in Charleston. One time I did all the paperwork and escorted a prisoner to the base brig. You cannot just drop someone off just because you feel like it. Although it would have been a nice option. Later, I had to finalize all the paperwork for submission to the base legal department for that sailor's Courts Martial.

Hasan's trial is unusual and very political. Most trials are started somewhere between 6 months and one year. Sometimes two. Keeping a prisoner costs $$$$$$. Speedy trials are necessary to keep costs down and the rights of the accused intact. That is done usually through a plea bargain (just like in civilian courts).

President Obama wants his time in office to look like he has the lowest percentage of terrorist incidents. That is why the 'work place violence'. Boston bombing and the follow on coverage hurt that.

 

[kokonut]

When I was on active duty (Navy), My job was to preparing paperwork before and after trial NJP (Non Judicial Punishment) which is given out by a commanding officer of a unit or command. I did those throughout my career. I also did a little investigative work on service member deaths for a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer at the base legal department here in Charleston. One time I did all the paperwork and escorted a prisoner to the base brig. You cannot just drop someone off just because you feel like it. Although it would have been a nice option. Later, I had to finalize all the paperwork for submission to the base legal department for that sailor's Courts Martial.

Hasan's trial is unusual and very political. Most trials are started somewhere between 6 months and one year. Sometimes two. Keeping a prisoner costs $$$$$$. Speedy trials are necessary to keep costs down and the rights of the accused intact. That is done usually through a plea bargain (just like in civilian courts).

President Obama wants his time in office to look like he has the lowest percentage of terrorist incidents. That is why the 'work place violence'. Boston bombing and the follow on coverage hurt that.

I agree!

He's a terrorist. Pure and simple.

 

[kokonut]

Thirteen people were killed in the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Here are their stories:

_ Michael Grant Cahill, 62, of Cameron, Texas. Cahill was a physician assistant and civilian employee who had returned to work the previous week after suffering a heart attack two weeks earlier. Born in Spokane, Wash., he helped treat soldiers returning from tours of duty or preparing for deployment. He and his wife had been married 37 years.

_Maj. Libardo Eduardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va. Originally from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, he had a doctorate in psychology from the University of Arizona and worked with bilingual special-needs students at Tucson-area schools before entering private practice. He had just arrived at Fort Hood and was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. He was a father of three.

_Staff Sgt. Justin M. DeCrow, 32, from Evans, Ga. He was helping train soldiers on how to help new veterans with paperwork. He had arrived at Fort Hood in September 2009 after being stationed for a year in Korea. Married and father of a teenage daughter, he was first stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga., where his wife had hoped he would return when a posting there became open.

_Capt. John Gaffaney, 56, from San Diego County, Calif. Gaffaney was a psychiatric nurse for more than 20 years and had arrived at Fort Hood the day before the shooting to prepare for a deployment to Iraq. A native of Williston, N.D., he had served in the Navy and later the California National Guard. Married and father to a son, he supervised a team of six social workers at San Diego County's Adult Protective Services Department.

_Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn. Known as "Freddie," he was a combat engineer based at Fort Hood and preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. He was married with two daughters. His family said he exemplified the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

_Spc. Jason Dean Hunt, 22, of Frederick, Okla. Known as J.D., he'd been married for two months. He served 3 1/2 years in the Army including a stint in Iraq. He had re-enlisted in the Army for six years after serving his initial two-year assignment and previously was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga.

_Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis. She joined the Army after the 2001 terrorist attacks, had arrived at Fort Hood two days before the shootings and was set for deployment to Afghanistan in December 2009. Her mother said she had vowed to take on Osama bin Laden. Her family described her as highly competitive in sports and with a smile that would light up any room.

_Pfc. Aaron Thomas Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. He joined the Army instead of going on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to an uncle. He was the youngest of four children in his family and was to be deployed to Afghanistan in January 2010.

_Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, Bolingbrook, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. He quit what he believed was a dead-end furniture company job to join the military about a year earlier. His mother said she spoke with him two days before the shooting and they talked about how he would be home for Christmas the following month. She hadn't seen him for a year while he was in training.

_Capt. Russell Seager, 51, of Racine, Wis. Seager joined the Army a few years earlier to help veterans returning to civilian life. He'd worked with soldiers at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Milwaukee who were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and also taught classes at Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee. Married and with a son, he was at Fort Hood for training in advance of a December deployment to Afghanistan.

_Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago. Known to her friends as "Cheka," she was pregnant and preparing to return home after deployment to Iraq. She had been back in the U.S. for three days. Velez was planning a lifelong career in the Army, family members said. One of her high school teachers said she hoped to become a psychologist.

_Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. Warman was a military physician assistant with two daughters and six grandchildren. She had volunteered with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, a reintegration program for Maryland National Guard soldiers returning from deployment overseas, providing mental health counseling and helping develop a program about the myths and realities of post-traumatic stress disorder. She was preparing for deployment to Iraq.

_Pfc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn. Xiong was married and father of three young children. His family has a history of military service and his father, from Laos, fought the Viet Cong with the CIA in 1972. He was among 11 siblings who came to the U.S. as a toddler, grew up in California and then moved to Minnesota. He was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan.

You forgot the 14th human victim who was killed with the mother. 14 people died that day.