Though Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan has chosen to defend himself in his mass murder trial, the former Army psychiatrist still has a team of standby defense attorneys. On Thursday, they said they want their roles to be minimized, the Associated Press reports, in order to distance themselves from Hasan "acting in concert" with prosecutors to get the death penalty.
The wheelchair-bound Hasan has so far told the jury that the evidence will prove he was the shooter and that he was "trying to establish the perfect religion in the land of the supreme god." On Wednesday, the standby attorneys asked the judge on to allow them to take over the case. She denied their request; now they want to remove themselves.
"It becomes clear his goal is to remove impediments or obstacles to the death penalty and is working toward a death penalty," Hasan's lead standby attorney Lt. Col. Kris Poppe told judge Col. Tara Osborn. "We believe your order is causing us to violate our rules of professional conduct." He added that Hasan's courtroom actions are "repugnant to defense counsel and contrary to our professional obligations."
The attorneys said they will appeal her ruling to keep them on the case. The prosecution, meanwhile, believes there is no "moral dilemma" in Hasan's defense strategy.
Things got heated as defense attorneys ask for judge's order to be stayed while appeals court rules. Voices raised. #Hasan
Fort Hood Shootings
@FtHoodShootings
Things got heated as defense attorneys ask for judge's order to be stayed while appeals court rules. Voices raised. #Hasan
/ ViaJudge to def. attny Poppe: I will make it easy for you: if you follow my order you have no ethical liability. Poppe strongly disagrees.
Fort Hood Shootings
@FtHoodShootings
Judge to def. attny Poppe: I will make it easy for you: if you follow my order you have no ethical liability. Poppe strongly disagrees.
/ ViaProsecutor: #Hasan acting normally in admitting to shooting and appears to following "tried and true" defense strategy.
Fort Hood Shootings
@FtHoodShootings
Prosecutor: #Hasan acting normally in admitting to shooting and appears to following "tried and true" defense strategy.
/ ViaProsecutor Mullingan: "Nothing (#Hasan) has done has been repugnant or surprising to anyone who has followed this case."
Fort Hood Shootings
@FtHoodShootings
Prosecutor Mullingan: "Nothing (#Hasan) has done has been repugnant or surprising to anyone who has followed this case."
/ ViaDef. attny LTC Kris Poppe: "this is not about saving my license" it is about being ordered to do something "morally repugnant." #hasan
Fort Hood Shootings
@FtHoodShootings
Def. attny LTC Kris Poppe: "this is not about saving my license" it is about being ordered to do something "morally repugnant." #hasan
/ ViaAs his own representation, Hasan was expected to question witnesses — including many survivors of the 2009 attack. But he has so far declined to cross-examine any soldiers he allegedly shot at.