Fort Hood Sentencing Hasan Calls No Witnesses as He Faces the Death Penalty

Convicted Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan ended the sentencing phase of his trial in the same manner that he ended the first phase of the trial, with deafening silence. Just as he did before Hasan offered no closing statement, presented no witnesses and chose not to testify on his own behalf as a jury considers if he should be sentenced to death and possibly become the first soldier executed in the United States since the sixties, according to the Associated Press.

Before the trial there was speculation, and a little bit of fear, that Hasan would mount a fierce defense as he represented himself. Victims of the shooting who were testifying were afraid that they would be traumatized by facing the man who shot them.

Instead Hasan ended up presenting almost no defense at all. Aside from a few very quick questions he chose not to cross examine the majority of the prosecution's witnesses and he called no witnesses of his own.

During the sentencing phase of the trial prosecutors called victims of the shooting and their families up to the stand to testify what their lives were like after the attack. Witnesses told sad stories about alcoholism, changed personalities, devastating injuries and fear, according to the Associated Press.

After Hasan rested his defense without calling any witnesses Judge Col. Tara Osborn released the jury before grilling Hasan with dozens of questions in quick succession in order to determine if he was mentally capable of presenting his defense and if he knew what he was doing by not calling any witnesses. reports the Associated Press.

"It is my personal decision," Hasan said. "It is free and voluntary."

At which point Osborn explained why she was allowing him to continue without presenting a defense or submitting evidence.

"In other words, Maj. Hasan, you are the captain of your own ship," Osborn said.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday. It is unlikely that Hasan will make a statement but it will be his last opportunity to argue in public that his actions were done in an effort to protect the lives of insurgents; he had wanted to use that explanation as his defense but was banned from doing so, according to the Associated Press.