BUFFALO, N.Y. — The lawyer for a former western New York television executive accused of decapitating his wife says he should know within a month whether he will raise a psychiatric defense.
In court Friday, attorney James Harrington said the psychological evaluations of Muzzammil Hassan (moo-ZAHM'-mel HAH'-sahn) are incomplete, but he's hopeful they'll be done by Sept. 15 so he can tell prosecutors whether he'll pursue an insanity defense.
The 44-year-old Hassan's murder trial is scheduled to start Jan. 19 in Erie County Court. Hassan is charged with stabbing and beheading Aasiya (AH'-see-ya) Hassan at the offices of Bridges TV in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park.
The Pakistani-born couple started the network in part to dispel Muslim stereotypes.