Fort Hood Shooting Suspect Granted Delay in Case Until October

[cavegal]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/01/fort-hood-shooting-suspect-making-st-court-appearance-defense-attorney-seeks/?test=latestnews 

The Army psychiatrist accused of opening fire at Fort Hood, killing 13 and wounding dozens more, made his first military courtroom appearance Tuesday and was granted a delay in his case until October.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's military attorneys were granted a delay until Oct. 4 to further prepare the defense for his Article 32 hearing, which is similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding in which a judge hears witness testimony to determine whether the case should go to trial.

Defense attorney John Galligan sought a delay because he still needs key documents, including some of Hasan's military records, FBI files on Hasan's alleged contact with a radical Islamic cleric in Yemen months before the shooting, and some government reviews of the shooting rampage.

Officials increased security at the court building Tuesday, blocking off the road to the Lawrence J. Williams Judicial Center, bomb-sniffing dogs searched the parking lot and visitors were screened with hand-held metal detectors. Usually, none of those precautions are taken.

Hasan is awaiting a mental evaluation, which is to be conducted sometime after the Article 32 hearing. A panel of doctors will determine whether Hasan had a severe mental illness at the time of the shooting. If so, the doctors will offer a clinical psychological diagnosis and determin

[docstew]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/01/fort-hood-shooting-suspect-making-st-court-appearance-defense-attorney-seeks/?test=latestnews 

Oh good, the unit he was to deploy with will be returning, and will be available to testify.  I met several of those Soldiers downrange, and there is no love lost there.