Attorney says he met with Fort Hood shooting suspect for 30 minutes at San Antonio hospital

Associated Press

Last update: November 10, 2009 - 6:19 AM

WASHINGTON - The attorney for the Army psychiatrist accused in the mass shooting at Fort Hood says he's assured the suspect that all of his rights as a defendant in the military justice system will be respected.

Retired Col. John P. Galligan said he found Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan to be "coherent" when he met with him Monday. Galligan said on CBS's "The Early Show" that Hasan is "aware that he's a suspect. But there were no formal charges that I could discuss with him."

Galligan said Tuesday he thought it would be difficult for Hasan to get a fair trial at Fort Hood, "given the national media attention that has been focused" on the case.

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