BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – It was an unusual scene during day three of Muzzammil Hassan’s murder trial.
Thursday morning Hassan’s attorney Jeremy Schwartz said that his client wanted a conference on issues of representation.
Hassan came into the trial having fired three defense attorneys, and Thursday, he asked to get rid of his fourth.
The day before, Hassan asked to cross exam his children who were on the stand, but was denied by Judge Franczyk.
After multiple delays that lasted until 2 p.m, Hassan told the judge that his attorney was an “ineffective counsel,” and that he should be allowed to represent himself.
The judge once again denied the request, but allowed Hassan to leave the courtroom.
Before he left, he told the judge, quote, “You are playing with my life, it’s my life. I am taking the risk.”
Courtroom observers were stunned by the events.
Observer Sharon Warning said, “It was like he was accusing people of giving him and unfair trial and nobody was gonna listen to him.”
When the proceedings finally continued, the prosecution first called an Orchard Park Physicians Assistant, who said on one occasion Aasiya suffered a “vicious beating”.
The second witness was Mohamed Numan-Ali, who worked at the Bridges television station with the Hassans.
He told police he never witnessed any abuse, but that Aasiya was terrified the day she served her husband with divorce papers.
The final witnesses of the day was a Walmart employee, who prosecutors say sold Muzzammil Hassan the knives he used to kill his wife.
Jurors watched the surveillance video that showed the clerk and Hassan as he tested out a knife on a cardboard box to make sure they were sharp, he then bought two.
Hassan was able to watch the proceedings in a separate room and communicate with his attorney.
The trial won’t resume until Monday morning, it’s not clear whether Hassan will be back in the courtroom when that happens.
Hassan requests to represent himself; calls attorney “ineffective”
Claims his attorney has not visited him
BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) – As the Hassan trial resumed this afternoon at 2 p.m. we learned the reasons behind closed door meetings with Judge Franczyk this morning.
Muzzammil Hassan, this morning, made a request to represent himself, going forward in his second-degree murder trial, or he’ll fire his attorney. Hassan claims his attorney didn’t visit him, as often as he promised.
Without the jury present, Franczyk said he finds Hassan’s request to represent himself untimely, and says to grant the request would disrupt the process of the trial.
Hassan told the Judge that he will leave the courtroom if his request is not granted. The judge advised him that the case will go forward in his absence, if he chooses to not be present in the courtroom.
Hassan replied to Judge Franczyk, “I think your facts are wrong.” He called his counsel, “ineffective”, saying that his attorney had not come to see him over a month’s time. He continued by saying, “This is completely ineffective counsel.”
Hassan claimed his defense attorney made “at least three factual errors in his cross examination” and is “not prepared.”
He claims he doesn’t blame his attorney, Jeremy Schwartz, saying it is an overwhelming case, and that, “I am the only one with the time to review the case.”
Hassan says he has respect for Schwartz, and doesn’t blame him for his lack of time. Hassan says he has the time, in jail, with “room service meals”, to review 5,000 pages of notes. He claimed he’s been ready since September to go forward with this case, representing himself.
He says he’s the only person who has much to lose, saying “This affects my life, it affects what happens to my children… It’s my life. No one else’s life gets hurt, only mine.”
The judge fired back at Hassan “That’s debatable.”
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Read more: http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/erie/Hassan-events-stun-courtroom-observers
Read more: http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/erie/Hassan-events-stun-courtroom-observers
2 comments:
Gah! What a circus!
Why am I reminded of the trial of Charles Manson?
The final witnesses of the day was a Walmart employee, who prosecutors say sold Muzzammil Hassan the knives he used to kill his wife.
Jurors watched the surveillance video that showed the clerk and Hassan as he tested out a knife on a cardboard box to make sure they were sharp, he then bought two.
Clearly, he should be on trial for first degree murder.
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