New judge allows Hasan to keep beard

FORT HOOD, Texas (KXAN) - The Army major accused in the 2009 massacre on Fort Hood will be allowed to keep his beard for the trial, the new judge in the case ruled Tuesday.

But Army Col. Tara Osborn told Maj. Nidal Hasan that military jurors in the murder trial could have negative reaction toward to his beard because it is outside the service branch's regulations, the new judge told the defendant on Tuesday.

Osborn, who takes over in the cast because a military appeals court questioned the objectivity of the initial  judge, did not tell Hasan that he must shave for his trail. But she did ask him several times if he grew the beard under his own free will.

Each time Hasan replied that he did.

Hasan faces the death penalty if convicted in the November shooting 2009 rampage at Fort Hood that killed 13 and wounded more than two dozen. if convicted, Hasan could face the death penalty. No trial date was set.

The Army major's case had been on hold since September over the issue of whether he must shave. The initial judge said that he must be clean-shaven for court, even if had to be forcibly shaved.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces overruled that his order and dismissed the judge.

Osborn said she plans to draw up special instructions for the jury when it goes to trial about his beard.