US soldier on trial for 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage does not give closing argument

FORT HOOD, Texas – The U.S. soldier on trial for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage has declined to give a closing argument.

Maj. Nidal Hasan is acting as his own attorney but did not give a closing argument on Thursday. On Wednesday, Hasan rested his case without calling any witnesses or testifying in his own defence.

The Army psychiatrist is accused of killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 others at the Texas military base. If convicted, he could face the death.

He’s sat mostly silent during his trial, though he did tell jurors during an opening statement that evidence would show he was the shooter and that he’d “switched sides.” The American-born Muslim told the judge the attack was provoked by soldiers deploying to an “illegal war.”