Buffalo TV Exec Sentenced Over Beheading

Erie County, New York Court Judge Thomas Franczyk sentenced Muzzammil "Mo" Hassan this morning to the maximum sentence of 25 years to life for the brutal murder of his wife, Aasiya, in the couple's Orchard Park television studio two years ago, according to buffalonews.com.

"Justice demands that you receive nothing less than the maximum possible sentence," the judge said.

The sentence was not unexpected by lawyers following the case, given the brutal nature of the killing and Hassan's lack of remorse throughout his often bizarre 14-day trial.

Hassan, 46, was convicted of luring his wife to the couple's Orchard Park television studio on Feb. 12, 2009, then coming upon her from behind in a darkened hallway, stabbing her more than 40 times with two hunting knives, then cutting her head off.

Since Hassan's conviction, he has continued to write letters from jail expressing his ongoing belief that he -- not his wife -- suffered from battered spouse syndrome and that on the night of the murder he "broke down under years of abuse."

Though police, child protection agencies and medical professionals were aware of the family's domestic troubles and abuse suffered by Aasiya, Hassan was never previously arrested and Aasiya refused to press charges against him.

She did, however, seek orders of protection and filed for divorce the week before she was killed.

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