Muzzammil "Mo" Hassan: Guilty

Muzzammil "Mo" Hassan, 45, was convicted of second degree murder, Feb. 7, 2011, in the death of his wife Asiya Zubair Hassan who had filed for divorce just one week before her untimely death. The jury deliberated for just one hour after being handed the three-week long trial. The case generated interest because of the brutality of the crime and because of who the couple were.

On February 12, 2009 Muzzammil “Mo” Hassan stabbed his wife some 40 times before decapitating her in their Bridges TV studio located in Orchard Park NY. Hassan was the chief executive officer of the network and his wife, Asiya Zubair Hassan, was the general manager. Bridges TV was started in 1994 by Hassan and his wife in hopes of dispelling the negative image of Muslims after the 9/11 attacks. It was billed as the first English-language cable channel aimed at Muslims in the United States. The irony is of course how someone who wished to promote interfaith acceptance and tolerance could be involved in such a brutal crime.

According to reports, Hassan was having marital problems and had moved out of the house he shared with his wife and children. On the day of her death, Hassan had asked his wife of nine years to bring some of his clothes over to the TV studio. He had promised her he would not be there.....but he was.

"The defendant viciously killed ... and desecrated her (Aasiya's) body because six days earlier she had dared to file for divorce. Dared to seek a better life for herself and the children," Assistant District Attorney Paul Bonanno said in the prosecution's opening statement.

On Feb. 12, 2009, after killing his wife, Hassan went to the Orchard Park Police headquarters and told police what he had done. He was arrested and has been incarcerated ever since.

During the trial, which had been posponed several times in the ensuing two years, the prosecution said that Asiya Zubair Hassan had filed for divorce because of a history of physical and psychological abuse she had suffered at the hands of her husband. She had filed numerous complaints with the police but had failed to press any charges. She accused him of causing her to have a miscarriage four years ago by dragging her and sitting on her.

She also accused him of "flaunting another woman in her face". Just two days before her death she sent an email to this woman telling her how abusive her husband had been, providing photos of her battered face and destroyed belongings.

Asiya Hassan had tried to leave her husband before, fleeing to South Africa - where she underwent surgery for injuries suffered at his hands - and her native Pakistan but eventually returned to her husband, fearing he would find her no matter where she went.

At the trial Muzzammil Hassan's two adult children, Michael and Sonia Hassan, from a previous marriage also testified for the prosecution against their father. On the day of the murder they were both outside the studio where their step mother was killed, waiting for her in a car. See the video below.

Son and daughter testify against Hassan: wivb.com

In his defense Muzzammil Hassan tried to cast himself in the role of an abused husband. After gaining permission from the judge, he acted as his own attorney. He claimed that his side of the story was never heard and he was being judged "guilty until proven innocent". In a two-hour summation he explained that he was the victim and merely killed his wife in self defense. Showing just how much he did not see himself as a defendant in a murder trial, he ended with the words: "I don't blame my wife". See a portion of his summation below. For more click here.

VIDEO: Hassan defense closing argument: wivb.com

The Prosecutor, Curtin Gable, started the summation by saying:

"Self defense? Not a chance, not even close....this is intentional murder, plain and simple. Beyond a reasonable doubt, quite frankly beyond any doubt. The evidence is crystal clear and when you focus on the credible and relevant evidence your verdict will be clear as well."

To see more click here:

VIDEO: Hassan prosecution closing argument: wivb.com

After the two sides had concluded it was the jury's time. They spoke loud and clear. The did not waste any time in coming to their decision. In less than one hour they returned a verdict of guilty.

Jury takes one hour to convict Hassan: wivb.com

"Pinky" Won't Face Murder Charges in Levi Flores' Death.

The 13-year-old boy known as "Pinky" will not face murder charges in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Levi King Flores. Instead a grand jury, finding there was not enough evidence to support a second-degree murder charge, opted instead to charge him with:

• 1 Count Second-Degree Manslaughter (felony)
  
• 3 Counts of Second-Degree Assault (felonies)
  
• 1 Count of Fourth-Degree Misdemeanor Criminal Possession of a Weapon.

Also, he will no longer be charged as an adult. According to state law, his age and the reduction in charges require that he be tried in Family Court. He was arraigned on Wednesday Jan. 20.

A trial date of Feb 3 at 1:30 pm has been set. Family Court judge Andrew Bivona will preside. Orange county attorney David Darwin said he would appoint a senior assistant in the Family Law division to prosecute the case. There has been no word on who the defense lawyer will be.

According to the Times Herald Record, supporters of Levi King Flores attacked the 13-year-old while he was in detention at a youth facility in Westchester County. He has since been moved to another facility further away in Western New York. Although there has been no outbreak of violence, the police have been closely monitoring the situation on the streets of Newburgh and have placed extra patrols near the schools.

For more information on the stabbing death and funeral of Levi Flores click on the following articles: RIP Levi King Flores and Vaya Con Dios Levi King Flores

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Vaya Con Dios Levi King Flores

 The gang violence that brought an end to the life of 17-year-old Levi King Flores could not dampen the spirits of the hundreds of people who showed up at the wake and funeral services for the Newburgh youth. Sure, there was almost universal sadness and tears for a life that ended way too soon but there was also the strength of spirit that unified everyone, knowing that he was loved.

"No mother should bury a son, no daughter should bury a father, whatever happened today should not be happening again, we should not be burying our youth," Fr. Fernando Hernandez of St. Patrick's Church, Newburgh.

However some of Levi's friends see things quite differently:

"We've got one thing on our mind and that's revenge, you know. That's how it is, if the cops can't help us who's going to help us" Sergio Nava.

For scenes of the funeral service click on this link Levi King Flores Funeral. Levi King Flores will be buried in Mexico.

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RIP Levi King Flores

Levi King Flores was only 17 years old. He had not yet graduated from High School. He could not yet vote. He couldn't buy beer. He couldn't even buy a pack cigarettes....and he will never be able to do any of those things because he was stabbed to death on the streets of Newburgh, NY on Jan. 13, 2010. He leaves behind loving parents, siblings, a girlfriend, a daughter and many friends. Levi was a victim of gang violence.

A 13-year-old boy, who goes by the street name of "Pinky", was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Levi Flores. He was arraigned in Newburgh City Court before Judge Harold Ramsey and was placed into the custody of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Police did not release real name.

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According to reports, a fight broke out at the corner of First St. and Carpenter Ave. in which Levi was stabbed along with a 12-year-old boy. They were both taken to St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital Newburgh Campus. While there, two other teens showed up, also with stabbed wounds - a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl. All of them were interviewed by the police. During the course of their investigation, the police learned the identity of the accused 13-year-old.

Levi and two of the other stabbing victims were taken by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center. While en route Levi died. The others are expected to survive.

"It's unbelievable, it's unbelievable that the violence has resulted in this kind of action. What used to be a personal insult or an assault in the school yard that might have resulted in a fist fight is now culminating outside on the city streets...its unbelievable," said Eric Paolilli the chief of police.

The next day at NFA, the high school, there was a lot of tension. A number of fights broke out. The police were called in. By noon they had arrested 4 students. Many parents showed up at the school to get their kids early. Some of the students were angry but many were grieving. The disturbance prompted school officials to cancel all after school activities and close the school system for the following day, Friday. On Monday the schools will remain closed in observance of Martin Luther King's birthday.

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New York State Bans Texting

As of November 1, 2009, New York State's law against texting while driving went into effect. The new law forbids the use of mobile devices for reading, typing and sending text messages while driving. Fines can be as much as $150. It does not apply to GPS or "hands free" phone use.

It is however, only a secondary offense. That means that in order to be ticketed for texting, a primary offense such as speeding or disobeying a traffic signal must occur first. You cannot be pulled over and ticketed just for texting behind the steering wheel.

If that is a comfort to some diehard enthusiasts of the practice, consider this video below. Produced by the Gwent Police Department in Wales, it shows the bloody outcome of texting while driving. It is very graphic in nature but illustrates the possible hazards of distracted driving.

In total, 18 states plan to have texting-while-driving bans on the books by January, 2010. But only New York and Washington state have the bans listed as secondary enforcement.

"Secondary enforcement is really sending the wrong message to the public," said Judith Stone, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. "It's basically saying this law is not that important."

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