Dad Weeps Over N.Y. Arson 'Killer'

January 13, 2004 -- The teenage arson suspect who says he was trying to commit suicide when he set a fire that killed a GI's wife and her mother was arraigned on murder and arson charges yesterday, as his extremely religious father buried his face in his hands and wept.

Mohammad Hasan, 15, told police he set the fire Dec. 30 in the vestibule at 1437 Glover St. near where he lived in The Bronx "because I wanted to hurt myself," according to his statement read in court.

"After about 10 seconds, I ran out because I couldn't take the pain anymore," said Hasan, who suffered burns in the fire.

Maria Cruz, 20, and her mother, Brenda Casanova, 41, died in the blaze.

Cruz's husband, Roberto, is an infantryman who was serving in Iraq. He flew home for the funerals.

Hasan's father, Mohammad Abdul Karim, an MTA telephone repairman, said the family emigrated from Bangladesh in 2000 and "we were happy because that is a better life than other places." But after 9/11, he said, "this environment, being a Muslim . . . it is worse for us."

He said he noticed a change in his son after the boy was accused of stealing in school.

While his son's hobbies used to include collecting Pok