So much for countering Muslim stereotypes

[Ned]

It's been a bad week in Buffalo. A Muslim man who started a TV station in NY to counter Muslim stereotypes has beheaded his wife after she filed for divorce about 6 weeks ago. Police had been called to aid the wife several times on domestic violence calls.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The founder of an Islamic television station (http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/02/16/buffalo.beheading/index.html) in upstate New York aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes has confessed to beheading his wife, authorities said.

Muzzammil Hassan has been charged with murder in the death of his wife, Aasiya Hassan.

Muzzammil Hassan was charged with second-degree murder after police found the decapitated body of his wife, Aasiya Hassan, at the Bridges TV station in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, said Andrew Benz, Orchard Park's police chief.

Hassan was arrested Thursday.

His wife filed for divorce January 6, and police had responded to several domestic violence calls at the couple's home, Benz said.

Hassan went directly to the police station after his wife's death and confessed to killing her, Benz told CNN. Benz declined to give further details...

[jfrenaye]

2nd Degree??

This is disgusting!

[icymrot]

2nd Degree??

This is disgusting!

I said the same thing when I read the story this morning. How is this not 1st degree?? Certainly sounds pre-meditated to me. Is he going to claim temporary insanity?

[Ned]

If he didn't bring whatever he used into the house to decapitate her, he can argue that he did it in the heat of an argument, which is 2nd degree murder.

There is no report that he's pleading insanity, but that's going to be hard to prove. Even if he was insane (there is no evidence of that), if he knew right from wrong he can't claim temporary insanity. Killing someone, even in this manner, is not in itself any proof at all of not knowing the difference between right and wrong. On TV people get off on temporary insanity all the time, but not in the real world.

I was to be on a jury (I was not chosen due to my beliefs about the death penalty; I believe it's state sponsored murder, but that's another thread.) where the 27 year old defendant was charged with the rape and murder of his 5 year old niece. This was apparently the 3rd time he raped her. The physical evidence was overwhelming. He plead temporary insanity. He was convicted and sentenced to death. He's lost every appeal so far. He only has the US Supreme Court left.

I said the same thing when I read the story this morning. How is this not 1st degree?? Certainly sounds pre-meditated to me. Is he going to claim temporary insanity?

[icymrot]

There is no report that he's pleading insanity, but that's going to be hard to prove. Even if he was insane (there is no evidence of that), if he knew right from wrong he can't claim temporary insanity. Killing someone, even in this manner, is not in itself any proof at all of not knowing the difference between right and wrong. On TV people get off on temporary insanity all the time, but not in the real world.

That was more of sarcastic comment then anything else. What is the dividing line between 1st & 2nd degree?

[wrp96]

That was more of sarcastic comment then anything else. What is the dividing line between 1st & 2nd degree?

It depends on the jurisdiction.

But generally first degree murder requires intent (malice aforethought). Second degree murder does not require intent.

Most jurisdictions consider the following to be malice aforethought:

(i) Intent to kill;
(ii) Intent to inflict serious bodily harm short of death;
(iii) Reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life (sometimes described as an "abandoned and malignant heart"); or
(iv) Intent to commit a dangerous felony (the "felony-murder" doctrine).



One of the first things we learned about in criminal law.

[jfrenaye]

OK I presume the guy did not grab a nearby guillotine and do the job. He probably got a big ass knife and has to hack off or saw off her head.

Hey if you know it is bad and you make the first cut--stop.

This guy needs to be sent to live amongst his own. I honestly woudl not waste a taxpayer dime on this bull****

[rampo]

Didn't his guy realize that he's in America now? Real Americans shoot their wives and kids and then shoot themselves or run away.

[deangreenhoe]

Didn't his guy realize that he's in America now? Real Americans shoot their wives and kids and then shoot themselves or run away.

Yep, he was supposed to at least put a few spikes in his own head with a nail gun afterward. Evidently he missed that part during citizenship class. :rolleyes: