Hasan defense seeks expert reinforcements

FORT HOOD, Texas, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- A military judge is considering whether the government will pay for defense consultants in the trial of a U.S. Army officer accused of killing 13 people.

A pre-trial hearing at Fort Hood, Texas, was convened Thursday to debate whether or not Maj. Nidal Hasan can receive various types of expert defense assistance at government expense before his trial in March.

The Austin American-Statesman reported attorneys asked the judge, Col. Gregory Gross, for permission to hire two consultants on pre-trial publicity and jury selection. There was no immediate ruling.

KXXV-TV, Waco, said the hearing was the first court appearance for Hasan since his arraignment in July. He has yet to enter a plea.

Hasan, who was shot and paralyzed in the incident, was captured after he allegedly opened fire on soldiers and civilians at the base during the run-up to his deployment to Iraq. He faces 32 counts of attempted murder as well.