Hasan Paralyzed, in Guarded Condition

Attorney Says Ft. Hood Suspect Is Coherent and May Be Able to Stand Trial, But Medical Condition Is "Extremely Serious"

(CBS)  Last Updated 8:27 a.m. ET

The Army major charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder in last week's shooting rampage at Ft. Hood is paralyzed, according to his civilian counsel.

Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, who is recovering in an Army hospital's intensive care unit, is in "extremely serious" condition, retired Col. John Galligan said this morning.

Galligan met with his client yesterday at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, after Nasan was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder. Their meeting lasted about an hour.

Galligan was joined by an unidentified member of Hasan's family.

"He cannot get up and walk," Galligan told a group of reporters gathered at Ft. Hood's main entrance, adding that Hasan's paralysis is likely from the waist down. Galligan said that his client was also experiencing intense pain in his hands.

Galligan also told reporters that Hasan's speech is garbled.

Special Section: Tragedy at Fort Hood

On CBS' "The Early Show" this morning, Galligan said his client has been coherent in their discussions despite his medical condition.

When asked by anchor Harry Smith if he thought Hasan was competent to stand trial, Galligan acknowledged his client's condition is guarded.

Hasan shows "ability to relate with me," Galligan said. "He understands who I am, we can talk, he knows what time it is. But, again, I was only there for an hour and I could tell at the end of that one-hour session I was kind of pushing the limits in terms of my ability to keep him fresh and alert in a discussion with me.

"His medical condition is extremely serious."

Yesterday the Army psychiatrist was charged in a military court with 13 counts of premeditated murder in the attack that also left 29 people wounded, and he may face other charges. Hasan, who is at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio recovering from bullet wounds, could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

Galligan expressed unhappiness that the charges were apparently read to his client in the hospital yesterday without either him or his military counsel present.

"I was totally surprised to learn that there was going to be a major press release," he said. "When I queried about that, I wasn't too sure what time it was going to occur, what it was going to be about. But I learned from actually members of the media that apparently he was going to be charged yesterday. I was surprised by that and I was saddened by the manner in which it occurred because I received belated notice."

Smith asked if it were unusual, in a case of this importance, for the suspect to be charged without an attorney present.

"Well, there's no legal requirement that I be present when the charges have been preferred," Galligan said. "However, given as you've noted the high profile nature of the case, given his location and status, still in the ICU, and described by me based on the last timing I saw him in a medical condition that I would describe as guarded, I was extremely upset to learn that they were going about this important step in the pretrial procedural process without formally notifying me - by that I mean ensuring that I knew it was going to be done, coordinating it in advance. That would have permitted me to be down there.

"In all honesty, my first five minutes with the client was spent almost apologizing for the manner in which it went down. This wasn't . . . my responsibility, but that's what happened."

[sdh26234]

My very simple comment is this: If America was still following the "marching orders" left by the Founding Fathers, things in the homeland would not be the mess it is in, plus the world would be a better world. 9/11 was in reality, in a figure of speech, made in America, by America, for America, in the shop of complete and absolute lawlessness/anarchy with the Commander in Chief its foreman". I myself, am a legal immigrant now going on 54 years, immediately tried to learn the English language, because out respect for America especially! However, it is truly born Americans that little by little contributed what is today an America, I call: Two headed monster! Yes, another nation of illegals have now settled in and its language is now treated equal to English, right? Is it not treated equal to English, when one needs to call any governmental office from top to botton or for that matter any business, big and small, one has to chose between English and Spanish, right? Yes, today the constant blame goes for those terrorists who took down the NY towers and killing 3000 men and women, right? Tell me please anyone, did in reality this not happen due to America's completely neglecting its borders plus treating immigration laws no better than toiliet paper. No question, these lawlessness/anarchy makes America the worst enemy of itself! What really gets me going is the fact that all Christian Denomination in reality contribute greatly to America's lawlessness because all of them in essence are Sanctuary to illegals. As far as can tell, Scripture condemns such, when in reality Christians should be the model in obayeing the laws of America, when in reality they teach lawlessness, the way they act. I am a Christian myself and therefore I and my family speak the language of the land and say this: Anybody that does want to be a truly American, get the hell back where you came from. Of course our Federal Government is in reality the guilty party as to who all is here etc., etc., etc. I better stop right here. Yes, I repeat, the greatest enemy of America is American itself.

[RAGGEE]

we will drag him to the court if we have to and he will face the death penalty.for some retarded comments posted here.THERE ARE PATRIOT MUSLIM AMERICANS WHO SERVE IN THE MILITARY,NSA,CIA,FBI,DEA,ICE and are dedicated to serving this great nation proudly.this lunatic was a coward who has nothing to do with islam,christians,judea or any other religion of god.i think he was afraid of deploying to a war zone and he made the worst choice.to turn against his comrades.

[stryker54]

I say lets put all these radical muslims in pig grease, make them drink some, cut off their woody, stick a stick of dynamite up their a$$ and light the fuse, you would find that these pig headed people would quit their nonsense if they knew they wouldn't make it to their Allah because of pig grease and they wouldn't be able to have thier 72 virgins because their woody would be gone in the next life. Should straighten the rag heads up real quick. They are afraid of dying that way.Use their own stupid beliefs against them.

[adoptedone]

I wish to clarify some misconceptions about organized religion. It is possible to be a Christian and not be involved in organized religion as well as be involved in organized religion and not be a Christian. However, when Christians are involved in organized religion as taught in the book of James it provides an arena for nurturing, serving, worshiping and teaching. According to the book of James "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this- to look after widows and orphans in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world." Imagine what wonderful acts people could accomplish if they truly sought to express true religion to the world and truthfully many, many people ARE following these guidelines. Unfortunately there is rarely attention given to true religion. Most of what is deemed religion today is false and should be called organizations not religions. As evidenced by God's words from the Bible, the function of organized religion was organized service and organized accountability. I have lived in a country where organized religion was replaced with government. I can attest to the truth that compassion was nonexistent and moral decline was dramatic. Are there problems with organized religion - yes. Will there always be problems with organized religion - yes as long as mankind is involved. Would our lives benefit from the absence of organized religion - certainly not. Let us not forget that despite all the negative history of organized religion (witch trials, abuse of children by church leaders, misuse of funds by church leaders, etc.), organized religion has helped to shape and care of our nation - Declaration of Independence & Bill of Rights , organizations that care for the poor and needy like Salvation Army, Compassion International, churches that aide with disaster relief, Samaritan's Purse, Christmas Shoebox Program, International Mission Board, All God's Children International Adoption Services, and I could go on. I haven't seen government systems set up to care of others as well as most of these organized religions. I wish people could share in the same experience as I and see LIVE both sides of the fence.

[love2ridend]

I bet this guy voted for Obama.

[earlysaid]

Who cares who this man voted for? I could care less. He probably did not vote just like you probably did not vote.

[AmzingGrace]

stevenga777 wrote - Real Christians would view Hasan as misguided,and yes, while he must pay his earthly pentalty they would hope that in the end God forgives him and he goes to Heaven.

As a "Real Christian" I do NOT hope God forgives this man until he acknowledges completely the horrible crimes he committed and repents of them without reserve. Until then the God I know would not forgive him. God gives us Free will and along with that WE bear responsibility for our actions. Barring some evence of his change in attitude, I see no way that God would or should "Forgive" this man. As a parent loves a child but still punishes that child for his bad actions, so too our God loves us but will not ignore or forgive our bad actions until we acknowledge them as wrong. Go study your bible some more, God's forgiveness doesn't work the way you are suggesting. His mercy and grace are granted to those who have sought first sought him and the God that Hasan has sought is by no means the God that I worship or that is in the Bible.

[AmzingGrace]

CBS and ALL other media source - Please do us a favor - Stop plastering this killers picture everywhere and on every article. We don't need to see his face anymore. He has long since past his fifteen minutes of Fame/Infamy and all you are doing is tormenting the families of those he killed. The victims faces are the ones who deserve remembering - this killer needs to be dealt with swiftly and his memory erased except as a lesson to those who failed to see him as a threat to the public and his co-workers.

[askagain]

What a shame. Hassan is paralyzed. Could that happen to a nicer guy? Will his lawyers use that as an excuse for not executing him. Don't forget, we have the Americans with disabilities Act which gives people with disabilities extra ordinary rights. If nothing else, his lawyers may succeed in getting sympathy for this terrorist.

[robinspp]

Religion is foolish. You don?t have to be an intelligent person to follow religion, but to know about science you have to be an intelligent person.

[askagain]

You must be very young. Science is primitive at best. There are many unanswered questions despite that fact that we spend huge amounts on science, have a huge number of scientists solving things at a snail's space, and science has very few answers. I graduated high school over 40 years go. We don't know much more about cancer today than we knew 40 years ago. Yes, we have improved somewhat in our treatments and medications but we still don't have a cure for most major diseases. If religion is so bad, how do you explain many scientists practicing religion?

[skepticalJM]

There's an awful lot of hate in these comments; the same kind that allowed Hassan to do what he did. Let's not compound his stupidity by showing him the same thing.

[askagain]

Tell that to the families of the soldiers he killed. Tell that to the taxpayers who will be footing millions of dollars for what he did.

[FloridaRes]

Hasan's Attorney is amazing for having chutzpah (this is when you have killed your Mother and Father and throw yourself on the mercy of the court because you are an orphan!!!)
I guess the attorney's theory is that poor Hasan is in such bad medical condition because of the shots that incapacitated him AS A RESULT of his shooting and killing so many, that he is throwing himself on the mercy of the court (and the American people). Well think again bozo! This will not fly. If not for Hasan, he wouldn't have been shot and neither would over 40 other heroes (13 of whom are dead by Hasan's hand!) And don't give me any bs about being innocent till proved guilty - in this case there are too many live witnesses to what he has done. Isn't it too bad he was read the charges without his atty present - everything is being done by the letter of the law. Hasan's atty should think twice before thinking that he has to apologize for the actions of anybody else regarding what is done to/for his client.

[AOCGUY]

What would you have him do? His job is to defend MAJ Hasan. If he did anything less then Hasan would have grounds to toss out any conviction based upon inadequate council. Do you really believe that Hasan will be found innocent even with the best of council?

[denvermorgan3000]

Were is Jack Ruby when you need him he knows what to do about this kind of thing.

[stryker54]

Ruby is dead!

[dagrandma]

Hope he lives so we can kill the mo fo.

[mrhellokitty]

Man ,
I use to be a Republican until the crazy christian right took over my party, I cannot stand that. These nuts are ruining our part or what use to be our party. GOP use to be level minded conservatives, now its all extreme nut jobs. All that is left is nutty religious , racist nuts who are so blinded by stupidity that they do not realize the real enemies are their own party who do not want them to have health care. Come on why would you want universal health care ? What is wrong with every American having proper health care when they are sick ? Of all things your tax goes toward shouldnt you not mind it going to health care. I would cut out a lot of other wasteful spending to have health care for everyone. When people are sick they shouldnt have to worry about bills. I just do not get it and you know you guys are paying to much for health care so why fight it ? Because you are afraid some mexicans might get free health care ? Give me a break the U.S. Sends billions if not trillions to foreign governments every year you should be worried more about that money .

[AndyMaxo]

Amen Brother!

[stryker54]

Well mrhellokitty, why don't you ask your buddy Obama to stop sending money there so he can pay for your health care. I don't want govt. health care, I have paid premiums for health insurance for over 40 years, I don't mind being responsible for my family of 6 and me. You just want a hand out. And no I'm not a dem or rep. I think both parties suck and have for years. I say lets have a big march on washington and through all of them out, Obama, his ***** Pelosi, his pimp Reid and the rest, bawney frank and chris dodd should be after these 3 bozo's.

[SAMTORRES66]

RELIGIONS NOT GOOD FOR HUMANITY.....

[denvermorgan3000]

If hassan needs a doctor to treat him i would be glad to do it for free
im sure i could save the taxpayers a lot of money.
I specialize in muslim terrorists who kill innocent americans.

[lucymercer]

He probably won't be wanting any lap dances for a while. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

[denvermorgan3000]

thats for sure maybe he can get one as a last wish before he
meets the 16 virgins

[erb0087]

"Hasan Paralyzed, in Guarded Condition"

He'd better be in a guarded condition.

[50BMS13]

erb0087
LOL

[stickbowman]

CBS paralyzed, unable to stop network aid and comfort to home grown Jihad murderer.

[american_11-2009]

Bet he is disappointed! He thought he would be in paradise as a reward for his Jihad busy raping the 72 virgins by now!