Government defends use of evidence in Hasan case

FORT HOOD, Texas -- In the case of U.S. vs. Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, Military Judge (Col.) Tara Osborn required government lawyers to explain the relevance of using a photo of Sgt. Hasan K. Akbar, autopsy photos, crime-scene video, 911-call recordings, and the law enforcement dash-camera video as evidence in the court-martial. 

The judge ruled the government may not use any photos of the deceased and also may not use a crime scene video during opening statements.

The next pretrial hearing will be held 2:30 p.m. July 31 here.

The panel is scheduled to convene on Aug. 5 to allow time to conduct additional questioning in the event a current panel member becomes unavailable. The first day of testimony in the court-martial remains scheduled for Aug. 6.

The accused, Hasan, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

On July 31, satellite trucks should report at 11:30 a.m to the Fort Hood Clarke Road Gate on West Highway 190. Truck registration and credentialing ends at 12:30 p.m.

REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOULD CHECK IN AT 440 PLAZA ON FORT HOOD STREET, KILLEEN, TEXAS, FROM 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.

NOTE: Only those media outlets who have preregistered for the original June 5 Panel Selection and subsequent trial will be granted access.

All media should be prepared to show a U.S. driver's license with photo and an accredited press badge with photo.