WSB's Veronica Waters reports Chiman Rai faces a possible death sentence if convicted. Tuesday, Chi's lawyers take center stage. They say they have several witnesses, but expect them to be brief. The judge says if the defense's case wraps up quickly, the jury could hear closing arguments as early as Tuesday afternoon.
The state called a former jail cellmate of Rai's to testify, who said Rai spoke of his hatred for black people and said he would do anything to protect his family.
"He says, 'They're all scum. Every one of those black people are scum, and I wish I had more money. I already spent money once to take care of somebody. I wish I had more money, I'd get rid of them all,'" Albert Walmer testified.
Defense attorney Jack Martin slammed Walmer's credibility, detailing his long list of felony convictions and implying that he turned snitch in order to get consideration on a previously pending case. Walmer, Martin pointed out, had been quite successful in the past as a liar.
"Passing bad checks? Lies. Swindles? Lies. Defrauding innkeepers? Lies. Correct?" said Martin.
"All for a benefit," Walmer replied.
"All for a benefit?" Martin repeated.
"There is no benefit here. I've already been sentenced," said Walmer.
A forensic accountant earlier testified that he had pored over several of Chiman Rai's Mississippi bank accounts, and that in April of 2000, Rai had hundreds of thousands of dollars at his disposal at any given time. He ran very "cash-intensive" businesses, including a check-cashing service and a grocery store. Bill Bruton testified that he had found no specific $10,000 cash transaction--which was the amount of money a confessed middle man said he was given to pay a hit man.
Herbert Green said last week on the stand that banker Gary Nowell counted out $10,000 and gave it to him at Rai's request. But Nowell said Monday he had absolutely no recollection of that ever happening and said if it had, there would have to have been some bank record of it.
"If Herbert Green came in here and said that he walked in the bank one day and you said, 'Come here' and counted out 100 $100 bills...has that ever happened?" asked defense attorney Don Samuel.
"No," Nowell replied.
"Ever?" asked Samuel.
"Never," said Nowell.
What others are saying
- Murder For Hire Trial (Indian Man)Recently in the news I have read and heard about the Don Imus outrage about something he said on the air(radio station). Mr. Imus is a white male. He had been in trouble before about what he said about some black college women basketball players over the air. Now it seems he has said something else that seems or appears to be negative about Packman Jones and his troubles with the police. It's not so much what Mr. Imus said but how he said it. I've heard the replaying of what was said and frankly it doesn't bother me one bit. So what if it seems like he may or may not have said something negative about Packman Jones, who is black. It seems like every word that comes out of his(Imus) mouth will be critized; what a waste to time and the media doesn't help the situation; their all about ratings.
Now what about this Indian man who is on trial accused of having his black daughter-in-law killed becaused his Indian son and the black woman fell in love and got married. Now she is dead and this Indian mans son who is Indian himself is now without his wife whom he loved. Where is the outrage in this case??
Does the outcry for racism against black people only apply if you are white(usually a white males). Racism exist in every culture, race and religion.
This all seems to be so hipocritical from my point of view. I'm viewing this as a black person (woman).
Does racism only matter when a white person is involved?
" COME ON PEOPLE (BLACK PEOPLE), LET'S BE REAL!!
Anyone can be a racist and that includes blacks!!!!!!!
Ms. Dee
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