Judge: Hasan May Not Attend Pretrial Wearing Beard

The judge has said he would bar Hasan from the courtroom if he still had a beard, which violates Army regulations.

A military judge is considering whether to delay the trial of the Army psychiatrist charged in the fatal 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood.

But whether Maj. Nidal Hasan will be at his pretrial hearing Tuesday is unclear. The judge has said he would bar Hasan from the courtroom if he still had a beard, which violates Army regulations.

The judge, Col. Gregory Gross, had postponed the hearing earlier this month when Hasan showed up with a beard. He says an unshaven Hasan will have to watch the proceedings from closed-circuit television.

Gross will consider several motions, including whether to delay Hasan's Aug. 20 trial until December.

Hasan is accused of opening fire at the Texas military post in November 2009, killing 13 people and injuring more than 30 others.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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