Attorney: Fort Hood Soldier Might Use Insanity Defense

The defense attorney for the soldier accused of killing 13 soldiers at Fort Hood said that his client might use the insanity defense.

 FORT HOOD, Texas — The defense attorney for the soldier accused of killing 13 soldiers at Fort Hood said that his client might use the insanity defense.

“But we haven’t reached that stage yet,” said attorney John Galligan.

Moreover, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan will more than likely plead not guilty, he added.

Galligan told ABC News that his client is paralysed and in “severe pain.”

Maj. Hasan is to remain at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to a recent military court ruling.

The hearing was conducted in Hasan’s ICU unit, a move in which was a first for Galligan who questioned the pace of the proceedings, he said.

“[Hasan] is paralyzed. He is not going on leave,” Galligan, a retired Army colonel with 36 years experience in law, said.

Galligan noted that given Maj. Hasan’s condition he should still be considered a patient in the eyes of the government.

The day after Maj. Hasan was removed from a ventilator, he requested lawyer during an interview with investigators.

Galligan met with his client on Nov. 9, a day after the request was made.

“Major Hasan is presumed innocent of these charges,” Galligan told “Good Morning America” last week.