Maj. Hasan: Evidence Will Show ‘I Am The Shooter’

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) — The Army psychiatrist who faces the death penalty for the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood has told jurors that "the evidence will clearly show that I am the shooter."

Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan on Tuesday began his court martial with opening statements that lasted less than two minutes. He told jurors: "The evidence presented during the trial will only show one side."

The 42-year-old Hasan had wanted to argue that he shot U.S. troops to protect Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. But the judge forbade the American-born Muslim from using that defense.

Hasan was shot in the back during the rampage and was paralyzed from the waist down.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.