An additional sessions court in Ganderbal on September 30 convicted Mohammad Shafi Magray of murder, theft and concealing evidence in the 2018 death of Mohammad Yousuf Khanday. It acquitted him of the separate abduction charge. Kashmir Images and a detailed court report published by JK Media recorded the differing findings.
Judge Fozia Paul relied on circumstantial evidence, including financial records, use of the deceased's bank card and recoveries. The court found that the admissible evidence, considered together, proved the murder case. It did not treat every element of the investigation as reliable.
The abduction allegation failed because the prosecution had not established force or deceitful inducement. The ruling therefore distinguishes between offences arising from the same investigation instead of accepting all charges together.
Magray remains in judicial custody. Kashmir Images reported that sentencing arguments were set for October 15. The verdict has not yet fixed the punishment; that separate hearing allows both sides to address the appropriate sentence.