After years of delay, trial of Fort Hood gunman could become faceoff between attacker, victims

FORT HOOD, Texas – After years of delays, the trial of the man who carried out the Fort Hood shooting seems likely to unfold as a faceoff between the gunman and his victims.

Starting Tuesday, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan will represent himself at a court-martial charging him with murder and attempted murder for the 2009 attack that left 13 people dead. Over the next several weeks, he is expected to deliver an opening statement, to question witnesses and possibly present his own evidence.

On the witness stand will be many of the more than 30 people who were wounded, plus dozens of other witnesses.

The Army psychiatrist has never denied carrying out the attack. But questions abound about how the trial will play out: How will Hasan question his victims? How will they respond?