Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The United States army psychiatrist accused of a shooting rampage at the Fort Hood military base in Texas will have his first pre-trial court hearing in his hospital room on Saturday, according to his defence team.

Major Nidal Hasan has been charged with 13 counts of pre-meditated murder.

The defence team will argue for more time in determining where to hold Major Hasan and other procedural issues because of his medical condition.

He is paralysed below the waist from being shot several times after he allegedly opened fire on a crowd of his fellow soldiers.

The major is being investigated for links to militant Islam and will be tried in a military court.

The 5 November rampage in the troops readiness centre also left 42 people wounded.