Ex-con Hassan Malik—who previously confessed to killing Betty Williams with an electrical cord and a frying pan and stuffing her body in a suitcase, which he left on a corner in East Harlem—has now pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. He claims he paid Williams for sex in his Pleasant Avenue apartment, but the two got into a fight after he allegedly caught her stealing his money. He also said she attacked him first, and he just used the improvised weapons on her in self-defense. However, Williams's sister insists she was not a hooker: "How those two met, we don't know and we'll never know."
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025. Donate today