Letter from Hassan's wife details abuse

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) - Prosecutors call it proof that she lived a life of fear and torture.

A letter written by Aasiya Hassan chronicled years of abuse at the hands of her husband, the man who is now awaiting trial for her brutal murder.

Attorney Julie Atti Rogers said, "What you read and see on TV isn't the truth.'

Attorneys Julie Atti Rogers and Frank Bogulski want you to give their client, Muzzammil Hassan, the benefit of the doubt. His wife, Aasiya Zubair Hassan, paints him not only as a batterer, but a monster in her divorce affidavit to the court, recently obtained by the Buffalo News.

Bogulski said, "It's simply a statement. There's been no cross examination, no witnesses called to trial and it's an allegation at this point."

Hassan's wife allegedly signed the 21 page sworn statement a week before she died last February. Her husband led police to her stabbed and decapitated body in the Bridges TV Studio they co-founded.

Contrary to his claims that he never used force, her sworn statement is full of instances. Among the worst, she claims she was pregnant when, "her husband, who is a stocky 6'2", imprisoned her in the bedroom and sat on her until she admitted she needed psychiatric help." A few months later, she claims he punched her face and dragged her down the driveway. She subsequently miscarried.

"We think the public needs to keep an open mind. We think it's improper to have a trial by public opinion," said Bogulski.

From the Erie County Jail, Hassan has sent handwritten letters to News 4 and others portraying himself as an abused spouse. In this letter, he signed his mother's name. News 4 contacted his parents, who said they didn't write it.

The News found the handwriting matched that of other documents signed by Hassan. Hassan seems to have no reservations about manipulating people, a key trait in abusers, says the Family Justice Center's Julie Doer.

Doer said, "They're master manipulators. It's almost like their life depends on it. That they keep control even when someone is killed in some other way."

"There's no question this was a horrible tragedy, but we would like public to keep presumption of innocence that the constitution affords our client," said Bogulski.