Hasan meets with defense team Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 10 2009 05:08 AM
Updated On: Tuesday, Nov. 10 2009 10:30 AM By Matt Goodman
Killeen Daily Herald

Retired Col. John P. Galligan, a Belton-based attorney, will defend the Army psychiatrist suspected of killing 13 and injuring 38 in a mass shooting Thursday at Fort Hood.

On Monday afternoon, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan's new civilian and military attorneys met him for about half an hour at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, said Galligan, who was hired by Hasan's family.

Galligan said Hasan asked for an attorney even though he is on sedatives and his condition is guarded.

"Given his medical condition, that's the smart move," Galligan told The Associated Press Monday night. "Nobody from law enforcement will be questioning him."

Galligan said both he and Maj. Christopher E. Martin, Fort Hood's senior defense attorney, met with Hasan.

Hasan was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center on Friday after being shot Thursday afternoon at Fort Hood's Soldier Readiness Processing Center. He initially was taken to an undisclosed local hospital before being moved to San Antonio.

Hasan was taken off a ventilator Saturday and is able to speak, said Brooke Army Medical Center spokesman Dewey Mitchell.

"He's still in critical but stable condition," Mitchell said. "But he is speaking with the medical staff."

Investigators tried to interview Hasan on Sunday at the military hospital where he is held under guard, but he refused to answer and requested a lawyer, the officials said.

Galligan said that charges had not been filed against Hasan as of Monday afternoon. Fort Hood officials have revealed little about the investigation, except to say that it is ongoing and that hundreds of witnesses have been interviewed.

Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, III Corps and Fort Hood commander, has said that all indicators point toward Hasan acting alone.

Officials said he will be tried in a military court, not a civilian one.

The most serious charge in military court is premeditated murder, which carries the death penalty.

The Army has not yet appointed a lead prosecutor in the case, said Fort Hood spokesman Tyler Broadway.

This isn't the first time Galligan has taken on a controversial case involving a servicemember.

After ending his 30-year law career with the Army in 2001, Galligan opened a private law practice in Belton. In 2005, he represented Pfc. Willie V. Brand in a general court-martial after two Afghan detainees were found dead at Bagram, Afghanistan, in American custody.

Galligan briefly discussed the case, saying it "bothered" the community, but that he feels an obligation to defend soldiers who are accused of crimes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Matt Goodman at mgoodman@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7550.