A New York City man was convicted Thursday of setting up the fatal shooting of his wife while the couple was on a walk with one of their young sons in New Jersey.
A jury in Morris County deliberated for less than four hours before convicting Kashif Parvaiz of scheming with his girlfriend to kill his wife and make it look like a random attack.
The August 2011 shooting occurred while Parvaiz and his wife, 27-year-old Nazish Noorani, walked with their son near her family's home in Boonton. Noorani was killed, Parvaiz was wounded and the boy was unharmed. The couple's other son was with family members in the house.
Antoinette Stephen pleaded guilty to murder and other offenses and testified against Parvaiz. The Billerica, Massachusetts, resident was having an affair with Parvaiz and admitted firing the fatal shots.
The victim's sister, Lubna Choudhry, cried in the hallway in the arms of her brother, Kaleem Norrani, after the verdict was read. The family did not immediately comment.
Prosecutors said during the three-week trial that Parvaiz emailed two black magic companies asking if they could come up with a way to make his wife leave him, kill herself or disappear. They said he paid at least $4,500 for spells and prayers from the company.
Parvaiz was convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse, hindering apprehension by lying to police and weapons charges. He faces life in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for April 24.
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Stephen faces a minimum of 30 years in prison, but has yet to be sentenced.
