NEW YORK (CNN) -- The founder of an Islamic
television station in upstate New York aimed at countering Muslim
stereotypes has confessed to beheading his wife, authorities
said.
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<!--===========CAPTION==========-->Muzzammil Hassan has
been charged with murder in the death of his wife, Aasiya
Hassan.<!--===========/CAPTION=========-->
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Muzzammil Hassan was charged with second-degree murder after
police found the decapitated body of his wife, Aasiya Hassan, at
the Bridges TV station in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, said
Andrew Benz, Orchard Park's police chief.
Hassan was arrested Thursday.
His wife filed for divorce January 6, and police had responded
to several domestic violence calls at the couple's home, Benz
said.
Hassan went directly to the police station after his wife's
death and confessed to killing her, Benz told
CNN. Benz declined to give further details.
Attempts to reach an attorney for Hassan were unsuccessful, and
his family didn't return calls from CNN.
He had two children, 4 and 6, with his wife. He had two other
children, 17 and 18, from his previous marriage.
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He launched Bridges TV, billed as the first English-language
cable channel targeting Muslims inside the United States, in 2004.
At the time, Hassan said he hoped the network would balance
negative portrayals of Muslims following the attacks
of September 11, 2001.
The station's staff is "deeply shocked and saddened by the
murder of Aasiya Hassan and the subsequent arrest of Muzzammil
Hassan," a statement from Bridges TV said.
"Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the
families of the victim," the statement said.
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