Prosecutors Point To 'Incriminating' Text Messages In Boonton Murder Case
BOONTON N.J. (CBSNewYork) – Relatives of Nazish Noorani, the wife and mother of two who was shot and killed while walking with her 3-year-old son in Boonton, are dealing with the death of a loved one and the shocking news that her husband and another woman have been charged with her murder.
Just hours before Noorani was to be laid to rest Friday, two bombshell arrests in the case. Noorani's husband, 26-year-old Kashif Parvaiz, charged with first-degree murder.
"They should shoot him right away," said Boonton resident Ejaz Khan. "He doesn't deserve any humanity."
Authorities said Parvaiz plotted the killing with another woman, 26-year-old Antoinette Stephen, who was also arrested and charged with murder.
"Within hours of the crime, it was obvious to investigators that this was sadly the alleged handy work of the victim's husband, who allegedly did the unthinkable and plotted to murder his wife after a religious celebration," Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said.
Stephen's neighbors were stunned to see her taken out of her home in Billerica in handcuffs.
"It was like what? Then we saw them take the girl out," one neighbor said.
Neighbors said they believed she was romatically involved with Parvaiz.
It was Tuesday night around 11 p.m. when the young family, visiting from Boston, went for a walk near a relative's house in Boonton.
Police say 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. Noorani was killed, Parvaiz injured. Their son was not hurt.
"Initially, it was reported it was a hate crime," said Noorani's cousin Danish Iqbal. "We never thought that. This is a fantastic area."
Prosecutors say that walk was in reality planned by Parvaiz and Stephen. The alleged murder weapon was found in Parvaiz's SUV and prosecutors said the man eventually broke down and confessed to the killing.
"We just want to thank the authorities for their work on the case," said Iqbal.
At her funeral Friday afternoon, Noorani's large extended family surrounded her hearse in mourning. Then, by Islamic tradition, dug her grave by hand.
Officials said the details of Parvaiz's story didn't add up and as they dug deeper, they say they found incriminating text messages between Parvaiz and Stephen leading up the murder.
"You hang in there. Freedom is just around ur corner," is a text prosecutors say Parvaiz received from Stephen.
"Well I need to speak to you and explain to you how to approach the situation i'll be depositing money tomorrow," Parvaiz allegedly responded.
They finalized the arrangements in a cellphone call on Tuesday — the day of the attack, according to prosecutors.
Officials said Parvaiz was arrested several days ago and is being held on $1 million bail. Stephen was arrested Thursday night in Boston and was arraigned Friday on a fugitive-from-justice charge and is being held without bail.
Both are charged with murder, conspiracy and weapons offenses. Parvaiz is also charged with child-endangerment.
"How can you kill your wife for the sake of somebody else," said Khan. "You have small kids, two kids."
In the arrest affidavit is a text message from Noorani to her brother saying: "Someday u will find me dead but its cuz of kashi ... He wants to kill me.''
Family members have set up an educational fund for the couple's children at www.nazishmemorialfund.org.
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