Fort Hood suspect makes first military courtroom appearance

FORT HOOD, Texas – The Army psychiatrist accused of gunning down 13 people at Fort Hood wore his military uniform and wheeled himself into his first courtroom appearance.

Attorneys for Maj. Nidal Hasan (nih-DAHL' hah-SAHN') on Tuesday won their request for a delay in his Article 32 hearing, which is scheduled for Oct. 4. That hearing is similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding in which a judge hears witness testimony to determine whether the case should go to trial.

Hasan was solemn throughout Tuesday hearing and mostly answered questions with a soft "yes sir."

While the hearing was the second for Hasan, it is the first time he's appeared in a Fort Hood courtroom because his initial hearing was in his hospital room. He's in a wheelchair because he was paralyzed after being wounded that day by military police officers.