Judge gives max term to man who beheaded his wife

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Muzzammil Hassan could very well die behind bars. On Wednesday, a judge slapped him with the maximum sentence for the beheading murder of his wife.

Unless Hassan appeals, this case has finally come to a close after two years. And for the first time on Wednesday, we're hearing from both the judge and the jurors about a case that made headlines around the world.

"You ambushed your unsuspecting wife and butchered her. Self defense? I don't think so," said Judge Thomas Franczyk.

Up until now, Judge Franczyk never shared his personal thoughts about the charges against Muzzammil Hassan. But during Hassan's sentencing, the judge lashed out at him over and over.

Judge Franczyk said, "I cannot begin to understand how she was able to put up with the incessant whining, the emails, the lectures, the dragons. It's beyond me."

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Related stories:

>> Watch the full video of Hassan's sentencing

>> It took the jury just one hour to convict him

>> Hear what members of the jury said about the sentencing

>> Find full coverage from the trial of Hassan here

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It's been two years since Hassan beheaded his wife in their Orchard Park TV studio. Aasiya Zubair Hassan was also stabbed more than 40 times. Hassan's trial lasted for two weeks. The jury found him guilty in less than an hour. Two of the jurors who listened to the horrific details of Aasiya's death spoke to News 4 after Hassan was sentenced.

Kelly Maccagnano said, "To see such brutality, a woman, what she went through I think will be with all of us forever."

Maccagnano and Linda Janiga were not required to be in court on sentencing day. They and two other jurors came for one reason.

Janiga said, "For Aasiya, for Aasiya. We sat here every day and listened to testimony and you know tried to make light of it and we wanted to see it through to fruition."

Unlike his outbursts during the trial, Hassan remained calm. He also offered the semblance of an apology.

"Sir, I deeply regret things came down to what they came down to," said Hassan.

His statement did not convince the judge, who sentenced him to the maximum of 25 years to life.

Judge Francyzk said, "I am entirely convinced he's utterly incapable of seeing himself for who he is."

The two jurors we spoke with say that at the beginning, they were keeping an open mind about Hassan's defense. But they say he never proved anything and that all he wanted to do was bash his dead wife.