TV Exec arrested in wife's decapitation death

TV Exec arrested in wife's decapitation death

Written by: Karen Benardello


The Muslim-American television executive in Orchard Park, NY who is accused of decapitating his wife remained in jail yesterday, as he was not granted bail. While some people are suggesting that his background influenced the judge not to grant bail, James Harrington, the lawyer of suspect Muzzammil "Mo" Hassan, 44, disputes these claims.

Hassan appeared at the bail hearing yesterday in the Orchard Park Village Court, while his lawyer waived his right to a felony hearing.

Hassan's wife, Aasiya Hassan, 37, was found decapitated last week at the offices of Bridges TV, the Muslim-American television network the couple was promoting. After walking into the upstate police station on Thursday and telling officers his wife was dead, Hassan was arrested.

Hassan immediately became a suspect, as Orchard Park police officers had responded to domestic incidents involving the couple in the past. Also, Aasiya had begun divorce proceedings a week before her death.

While some people may believe this was an "honor killing," which are still accepted among Muslim men who feel betrayed by their wives, Harrington said that culture and religion didn't play a role in Aasiya's death. Harrington is inisting his client is innocent, as he was in a state of shock and is having trouble coping with her death.

However, Erie County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Curtin Gable feels that there is enough evidence to hold and charge Hassan with second-degree murder, and was emotional because security was tightened at the courthouse.

While Bridges TV was operating on television providers across the U.S. and Canada, it stopped broadcasting after the killing. The station's interim general manager, Hunaid Baliwala, issued a statement yesterday, saying the staff did not have access to its facilities, However, she said the station will eventually return to the air in honor of Aasiya, who came up with the idea after listening to post-Sept. 11 media reports.

Nancy Sanders, a former news director at the station, added that Aasiya "didn't want her children to be brought up in a world where every mention of a Muslim had some sort of terrorist connotation to it. This woman in particular fought so hard to change the image of Muslims in America," she said, "and how does she die? This brutal act at the hand of her husband. It just stuns me."