FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Fort Hood's incoming commander likely will decide whether an Army psychiatrist will go to trial and face the death penalty for the deadly 2009 shootings at the Texas post.
Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the departing commanding general, on Wednesday granted a request by Maj. Nidal Hasan's attorney to delay proceedings until late April. That's when Maj. Gen. Donald Campbell is expected to assume command Fort Hood.
Hasan's attorney contends Fort Hood's current leader can't be impartial because he was there on Nov. 5, 2009, when 13 people died and more than two dozen were wounded.
A commanding general will decide if Hasan will be court-martialed and face death for 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder. Two Army colonels already have made that recommendation.