NEW YORK — A New York City man was convicted Friday of first-degree murder for the broad daylight killings of a Muslim cleric and his assistant. A state supreme court jury convicted Oscar Morel, 37, in the fatal shootings of Imam Maulana Akonjee and Thara Uddin, his friend and assistant. Some in New York City’s Muslim community called the attack on the two Bangladeshi immigrants a hate crime, but prosecutors said the killer’s motive was unclear. “Maulana and Thara came to this country in search of a better life, instead they found Mr. Morel’s hatred,” the statement said. Morel was arrested the following day after police connected him to a hit-and-run crash near the shooting scene.

Source: National Post March 23, 2018 18:33 UTC