Merry Christmas: NY Man Kills Woman, Stuffs Her in Suitcase; Sadly, His New Job as a Drug Counselor Postponed Indefinitely

Meet Hassan Malik, who, judging by the name, is probably just some misunderstood practitioner of the Religion of Pieces (just a hunch). Hassan hasn't had a good weekend.

An East Harlem man caught on video disposing of a woman's body stuffed inside a suitcase, confessed to smashing his victim with a frying pan and then used an electric cord to strangle her after he caught her trying to steal his money, police sources said.

Hassan Malik, 55, who has a long rap sheet including assault, aggravated harassment, robbery and drugs, was picked up around 1:30 p.m. on Monday in an apartment in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

In a written and videotaped confession, he copped to the strangulation slaying of Betty Williams, 28, sources said.

He told police he paid the victim for sex, but afterwards caught her taking money in his fourth floor apartment on Pleasant Avenue, so he killed her, other law enforcement sources said.

Malik was arraigned this afternoon and held without bail.

According to the criminal complaint, Malik portrayed the murder as self-defense. He said he did it because Williams "struck him with a frying pan twice on his shoulder."

Malik said he took the pan and hit her twice in the head, according to the criminal complaint.

After hitting her, Malik said the woman wrapped an electric cord around his neck -- but he took it and used it to strangle her, causing her "to pass out."

Looks like the city needs to find a new employee.

His lawyer says the 55-year-old Malik was about to start a job as a drug counselor.

A guy on probation going to work as a drug counselor? Sounds like a great plan.

While some stories indicate he had an apartment in Manhattan, he was also living in Westchester.