Shave or Be Shaved - military forced shaving described

[cstone]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-...-or-be-shaved/

Judge to Fort Hood suspect: Shave or be shaved

Updated at 2:29 p.m. ET


(AP) FORT HOOD, Texas - The Army psychiatrist charged in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage must be clean-shaven or will be forcibly shaved before his murder trial, a military judge ordered Thursday.


Col. Gregory Gross issued the official order after a hearing to determine whether a federal religious freedom law applied to Hasan's case, and triggered another delay in all proceedings related to Hasan's trial because his attorneys plan to appeal.


Beards are a violation of Army regulations, and soldiers who disobey orders to get rid of facial hair can be shaved against their will. Gross repeatedly has said Hasan's beard, which he started growing in jail this summer, is a disruption to the court proceedings.


Hasan told the judge last week that he grew a beard because his Muslim faith requires it, not as a show of disrespect. Gross ruled Thursday that the defense didn't prove Hasan is growing a beard for sincere religious reasons.


Gross had found Hasan in contempt of court at six previous pretrial hearings because he was not clean-shaven, then sent him to a nearby trailer to watch the proceedings on a closed-circuit television. But the judge allowed Hasan to remain in the courtroom for Thursday's hearing.


Hasan, 41, is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the November 2009 attack on the Texas Army post.


Hasan previously appealed after Gross said he would order him to be shaved if he did not get rid of the beard himself before the trial. Gross said he wants Hasan in the courtroom during the court-martial to prevent a possible appeal on the issue if he is convicted.


The Army has specific guidelines on forced shaving. A team of five military police officers restrains the inmate "with the reasonable force necessary," and a medical professional is on hand in case of injuries. The shaving must be done with electric clippers and must be videotaped, according to Army rules.


Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ruled Hasan's earlier appeal was premature because Gross has not issued a definitive order. But the court said that when Gross issued the official order, Hasan would be able to take his case to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings "there's an easy way and a hard way to do thing in life, what's it gonna be?".

It'd be a damn shame if someone slipped and got his carotid artery with a straight edge.

[Sawin]

Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings "there's an easy way and a hard way to do thing in life, what's it gonna be?".

It'd be a damn shame if someone slipped and got his carotid artery with a straight edge.

Yeah, and I think that's why they require it be done with electric clippers, not a razor.

[brutal]

Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings "there's an easy way and a hard way to do thing in life, what's it gonna be?".

It'd be a damn shame if someone slipped and got his carotid artery with a straight edge.

That was my first thought as well.

Yeah, and I think that's why they require it be done with electric clippers, not a razor.

Foiled again.

P.S. Can they trim the damned eyebrows while they're at it? He could probably use a nose trim as well.

On second thought, just clip it all off with a hedge shears right at the collar.

[Ronin13]

On second thought, just clip it all off with a hedge shears right at the collar.

Where do I sign up for that job?

This is ridiculous! He was clean shaven when he committed these murders, so why the change just because he's locked up? Stupid. That's what I would say, oh where was your "religious belief" before you shot all those people? IIRC he was clean shaven throughout his entire military career up to that point.

[bigshane]

Just dunk the fuck in Nair, hose him off the next day, and drag him back to court.

[Hoser]

I think his medical status was one of the reasons for it taking so long to get to trial.

[sako55]

His statement that he was growing the beard for religous reasons seems to helpprove that it was a terrorist act and not a "work place shooting".

[jerrymrc]

Weed Wacker with stainless line. As mad as many of us get over this just think how the families feel over all these delays.

[SA Friday]

The military court system is faster, but this is a HUGE case. Between the time it's taken for him to recover medically and the time it's taken to complete all investigative activity and the time it's taken to complete pre-trial prosecution and defense preparation, it's taken a lot of time. To be expected.

He's innocent until found guilty, and therefore on active status and receiving pay. Since he's still active and receiving pay, he must comply with military standards. Hold his ass down and shave him. Too bad, not sad.