Kochi, March 21 -- A strand of hair helped the Kerala police secure a conviction of the main accused in the murder of a traditional healer (quack) from Mysuru whose body or remains were never discovered by investigators, police and prosecutors said on Thursday.

The additional district and sessions court in Manjeri in Malappuram district found three people guilty of the abduction and murder of 60-year-old Shaba Sherif in October 2020. Judge Thushar M will pronounce the quantum of punishment for the convicts on Saturday.

The convicted were identified as Shaibin Ashraf (37), a businessman from Nilambur, and his accomplices Shihabudheen P (36) and Nishad Naduthodika (32). Nine others, including Ashraf's wife, were acquitted for lack of evid...