FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) - The military judge overseeing the Fort Hood shooting trial is strongly urging the suspect to forgo representing himself and allow trained attorneys to take over.
The judge, Col. Tara Osborn, quizzed Hasan on Monday about representing himself. The Army psychiatrist is accused of killing 13 people on the Texas military base in November 2009, but he's remained mostly silent during his trial.
Osborn told Hasan she believed he'd be better off with a lawyer who would know the rules for military trials, such as when to raise objections and how to spot issues for appeals.
Hasan acknowledged that Osborn had relayed such advice "repeatedly," but he insisted on representing himself.
Military defense attorneys ordered to help Hasan have accused him of trying to secure himself a death sentence.
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