Acting as His Own Attorney, Hasan Gets Another 'Shot' at Ft. Hood Witnesses

After issuing opening statements in which he said “the evidence will clearly show I am the shooter,” Maj. Nidal Hasan got the opportunity to cross examine witnesses who were testifying against him.

According to Fox News, this included pressing his former boss Lt. Col. Ben Kirk Phillips until the Lt. Col. “acknowledged” he had given Hasan a grade of “outstanding” on an officer evaluation report.

Hasan also cross-examined Pat Sonti, “who met Hasan at the Killeen Islamic Center in Fort Hood the morning of the shooting.” Sonti said Hasan handled the call for prayer for the mosque that morning and after prayer he “bid goodbye and told the congregation he was going home.”

Hasan then asked Sonti to describe the “difference between the call for prayer and the actual.” Sonti explained the difference then looked at Hasan and said, “but you know that, sir.”

Sgt. Alonzo Lunsford was shot seven times during the Ft. Hood attack and he testified on the first day as well. Hasan did not cross-examine Lunsford after he testified the shooter yelled “Allahu Akbar” on November 5, 2009, then opened fire. Lunsford was struck once, played dead momentarily, then began to run and was shot six more times.

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