His life on the line, Fort Hood gunman ties hands of attorneys required to help him

FORT HOOD, Texas – With his life on the line, Maj. Nidal Hasan has done nothing to dissuade jurors from giving him a death sentence. When his standby lawyers pleaded in vain to argue on his behalf, he described them as "overzealous."

Hasan has presented no witnesses or evidence during sentencing after being convicted last week of gunning down 13 people in a rampage at this Texas military post.

He'll have one last chance Wednesday during closing arguments at sentencing before jurors decide his fate.

So far, the Army psychiatrist's absent defense has only stoked suspicion that his ultimate goal is a death sentence that would fulfill his goal of becoming a martyr.

But despite his standby attorneys' protests, the judge in the case hasn't let them step in.