Atty: Hospital hearing set for Fort Hood suspect

Associated Press

Nov 20, 2009 15:45 EST

SAN ANTONIO

An attorney for the Army psychiatrist charged in the mass shooting at Fort Hood says his client will have his first court hearing in his hospital room on Saturday.

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's civilian attorney, John Galligan, said Friday that military prosecutors notified him of their plans for the hearing at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

Hasan has been recovering there since the Nov. 5 rampage at Fort Hood that left 13 dead and more than 30 wounded. Hasan was shot by civilian members of Fort Hood's police force.

The hearing is to determine whether Hasan will be placed in pre-trial confinement — which usually means jail. But Galligan says he'll argue that Hasan should remain in intensive care because he is paralyzed and still needs hospital care.

Fort Hood officials didn't immediately return a call about the hearing.