Reuters/Fort Hood, Texas

The US Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 fellow soldiers and wounding 31 others in a rampage at Foot Hood, Texas, in 2009 rested his defence case in his court-martial yesterday without calling any witnesses to testify.

Major Nidal Hasan, acting as his own defence attorney, has remained largely passive in court since telling the jury in opening arguments, “The evidence will clearly show that I am the shooter.”

Military judge Colonel Tara Osborn set closing arguments for today and asked Hasan if anyone had forced him into his decision to dispense with witnesses and rest his case. “No, ma’am,” he replied.

On Tuesday, military prosecutors rested their case in the capital murder court-martial of Hasan, an American-born Muslim who said he switched sides in what he considered a US war against Islam.

The shooting rampage on November 5, 2009, came at a time of heightened tensions over the American-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which strained relations between the US and countries with predominantly Muslim populations.

Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born cleric linked to Al Qaeda’s Yemen-based wing, praised Hasan as a hero and “a man of conscience.” US intelligence officials say Hasan had sent e-mails to Awlaki, who was killed by a US drone strike in 2011. The judge blocked those emails from being submitted as evidence in the trial.

Prosecutors opted against bringing terrorism charges against Hasan, who could face the death penalty if all 13 officers on the jury find him guilty of premeditated murder.

The judge was to rule later yesterday whether to give the jury the option of considering lesser offences such as voluntary manslaughter or aggravated assault.

Prosecutors called 89 witnesses in two weeks of testimony, with many describing in horrific detail the bloodbath in and around a medical building at Fort Hood.

Hasan, 42, passed up an opportunity on Tuesday to move for an immediate not-guilty verdict, which is within a defendant’s rights after the prosecution has rested.

Hasan faces 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of premeditated attempted murder for the 31 people injured plus one he shot at and missed.

He told mental health evaluators he wanted to become a martyr, court documents show. Lawyers assisting him say he is seeking the death penalty, but he has disputed that claim.