Kashif Parvaiz Convicted Of Plotting Wife's Fatal Boonton Shooting
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A jury has convicted a New York City man for setting up the fatal shooting of his wife in northern New Jersey.
The Morris County jury found Kashif Parvaiz guilty on Thursday of scheming with his Massachusetts 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 one of their young sons near Noorani's family home in Boonton.
Parvaiz was also shot. Their 3-year-old child was unharmed. The couple's other son was with family members in the house.
"Nothing will ever restore Nazish to her family. As her two young children grow up, they will never have their mother by their side. Her family, and most especially her siblings, will never see her again,'' Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said in a statement. "This verdict, however, demonstrates to all of her loved ones that justice has been served.''
Antoinette Stephen pleaded guilty to murder and other offenses and testified against him. The Billerica resident was having an affair with Parvaiz and has admitted firing the fatal shots.
Police said Parvaiz originally told investigators that his family was attacked by three men with guns shouting slurs about "terrorists" and opened fire on him and his wife.
Police said Parvaiz and Stephen teamed up to get Noorani out of the picture and said they found incriminating text messages between the two leading up the murder.
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.
The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for less than four hours between Wednesday and Thursday.
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.
Stephen faces a minimum of 30 years in prison, but has yet to be sentenced.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)