Shan not guilty of murder in Afrasheem case

The Criminal Court has found Ali Shan of H. Hicoast not guilty of the murder charge lodged against him by the state, in relation to the murder of religious scholar Dr Afrasheem Ali.

This verdict was announced by the court today.

Hussain Humaam, meanwhile, who confessed to the murder, has been convicted and given the death sentence.

The court said in its verdict against Shan, that Humaam, in his confession statement provided to the court, said that Shan was involved in the planning of the murder of Dr Afrasheem Ali; however, Humaam’s testimony cannot be accepted as evidence as he has already been convicted of this crime.

The court said that the second witness who testified against Shan said that he did not see Shan attack Dr Afrasheem Ali. The court also noted that the phone call recording provided by the state to prove their charge, was not enough to prove that Shan was involved in the murder.

The court moreover highlighted that three defence witnesses had said in court that Shan was a Jalapeno Restaurant at the time of the murder.

The court said the evidence provided against Shan was not enough to prove beyond doubt that he was guilty of murder.

Dr Afrasheem Ali was murdered on the night of 1 October 2012.