NY man accused of beheading wife pleads not guilty

[WI_DEM]

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The founder of a Muslim-American television channel has pleaded not guilty to murder in the beheading of his wife.

Muzzammil Hassan (moo-ZAHM'-mel HAH'-sahn) is charged with second-degree murder for the Feb. 12 death of his wife, Aasiya (AH'-see-ya), at the offices of Bridges TV in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park.

The 44-year-old businessman was arraigned Friday morning and ordered held without bail.

Aasiya was stabbed multiple times and decapitated. The president of the National Organization for Women's New York chapter has condemned her death as an honor killing - a characterization local victim advocacy groups oppose.

The couple launched Bridges TV in 2004, saying they hoped to balance negative portrayals of Muslims.

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20090313/49b9e850_3421_1334520090313846335838

[TwilightGardener]

1. Hmm. Yes, there are so many beheadings in Buffalo, it's certainly

conceivable that someone other than the insanely possessive Muslim husband with the restraining order against him did it. Sure--go ahead and plead "not guilty", see how that works for ya.

[cali]

3. I really don't see that his religion motivated this murder

and it's hardly unusual for defendents to plead innocent- whether they are or not.

[TwilightGardener]

4. You don't think that his culture or religion led to such a stereotypical way

for this woman to die? Really? And if I were his defense attorney, I'd work on a plea deal (life in prison, say) rather than go for "not guilty".

[happyslug]

5. In a plea negotiations, the defendant always pleas NOT GUILTY until it is final

Until then both sides are negotiating. Once he admits guilt, the case is closed. Lets be honest, he is going to get the Maximum sentence no matter what he pleas to, thus the issue is what is he technically guilty of? Is it Murder? Is to first or second degree Murder? (I would mention manslaughter, but the facts do NOT seem to fit this case). Insanity is also possible (Most people born in other countries accept US Murder standards once in the US, thus his "cultural" background is NOT a defense UNLESS he is also suffering from severe mental conditions that manifest itself in radical version of his background, thus insanity is a possible defense if it can be shown that it is defect of the mind NOT a mere product of his background i.e. mental illness NOT cultural norms).

Once he pleas Guilty, he will be sentences to whatever is the maximum sentence for that crime, up to and including the Death Penalty. Thus the time to negotiate is BEFORE he pleas Guilty NOT afterward. If a Plea has to be made (As it appears to be the case here) he is better off pleading Not guilty and continue to negotiation then plea guilty and lose whatever bargaining chips he has left.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Interesting, thank you--I was under the wrong impression that a not-guilty plea

was a way of NOT negotiating--a way of "going for broke" and a trial. I guess it's like buying a car--a dealer starts with the absolute highest most ridiculous price with the expectation that it will be negotiated downward.

[bobbert]

10. In a lower-profile case, you have to plea not guilty before you even get a plea-bargain

I would assume this would work for other cases too.

[hlthe2b]

2. What, she came with a removable head, did she?

This story just gets more and more obscene.

[Deja Q]

6. Well, his stunt hasn't done much to balance negative portrayals...

Insane twit.

[Voice for Peace]

8. oopsy on that balancing negative portrayals of muslims..

:crazy:

[bkkyosemite]

9. Don't even start me on this issue of women and beheadings and Muslim religion...........

He needs to be be headed but first castrated.!!!

[zbdent]

11. I heard Bill Frist reviewed the autopsy

and declared that the husband was not guilty ... Frist ruled she died of natural causes ...