A FORMER TELEVISION EXECUTIVE has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing and beheading his estranged wife.

Muzzammil Hassan, 46, had claimed he was the victim of “psychological rape” by his wife and said she had used their children as pawns against him. He said he had killed her out of fear.

Aasiya Hassan, 37, had been stabbed over 40 times and was beheaded. Her husband handed himself over to police an hour after the killing.

Last month, Hassan – who represented himself at the trial – was found guilty of murder. The court ruled that he had killed his wife when she sought a divorce.

Sentencing Hassan today, the judge dismissed Hassan’s claims he was the victim of domestic abuse, saying:

You brought two hunting knives, you tested them for sharpness, you laid in wait in a darkened hallway for your unsuspecting wife and you butchered her.

Self-defence? I don’t think so.

The judge added that Hassan’s claims had done men who are victims of domestic abuse no favours. He also granted prosecutors’ requests that Hassan be barred from contacting his two oldest children from a previous marriage. The two had testified against their father on behalf of their stepmother.

Hassan introduced a new lawyer just before his sentencing, who has indicated he will appeal.

- AP