Hassan to represent himself in trial

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Day four of the Hassan murder trial started with a bang, a potential game changer.

Muzzammil Hassan, who's accused of beheading his wife at Bridges TV in 2009, was granted the right to act as his own attorney.

  >>  Read live updates from the courtroom

Once again our cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, but inside the trial began with Hassan's attorney, Jeremy Schwartz, telling the judge that he met with his client on Friday and they had an impasse and "irreconcilable differences and opinions" that go to the heart of the defense.

Judge Thomas Franczyk, who on Thursday denied Hassan's request to represent himself, said that he had time to think about it and cited some case law.

After about a 20-minute dialogue without the jury in the courtroom, the judge said, "bottom line is you have the right to steer your own ship, even if you're steering it into an iceberg."

When the jury was brought in the judge advised them of the change and told them they can't have a negative inference of Hassan.

Schwartz will now be acting as Hassan's legal advisor since Hassan has no background in law.