Army judge expected to rule on Fort Hood shooting suspect’s request for 3-month trial delay

FORT HOOD, Texas – A military judge is expected to decide whether to delay the Fort Hood shooting suspect’s trial after hearing more about his defence strategy.

Maj. Nidal Hasan has requested a three-month delay to prepare for his “defence of others” strategy. It requires him to prove the 2009 shooting rampage was necessary to protect others from imminent harm or death.

Hasan says U.S. troops on the Texas Army post were about to deploy and posed an immediate danger to Taliban fighters.

But the judge, Col. Tara Osborn, won’t rule on the delay request Wednesday until she hears if he has evidence.

Hasan faces the death penalty or life without parole if convicted in the attack that killed 13.

Osborn said jury selection set for this week would start no sooner than Monday.