WSB's Veronica Waters reports the defense presented witness after witness, all of whom testified they had never heard Rai use racial epithets; be disrespectful to his almost exclusively-black customers at his grocery store; act violently; or speak disparagingly of black people. The witnesses themselves included whites, blacks, and Asians.

"It wasn't in his soul," said one.

More than one witness spoke of how Rai, who also spent several years as a math professor at the historically black Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, would use his own money to help customers pay their utility bills when they were short, rather than see them go home and have their lights or water cut off.

Inmates who have spent time with him in jail described Rai as prayerful, a kind listener who had words of encouragement for them when they were down, and who put money on other inmates' books when their accounts were low. Rai was not a racist, they all contended.

All five of Rai's children testified--including Ricky Rai, 28, who was recalled to the stand briefly to discuss the content of a phone call with his sister and mother about 15 hours before his wife, Sparkle Reid Rai, was killed. Rai said they were discussing how soon he would be in Mississippi for his older sister's wedding, and his tuxedo.

"Even at home, there was nothing racist that I ever heard out of his mouth," testified Sandeep Rai, Mr. Rai's youngest son.

Rai's eldest daughter, Jyoti, said her parents had never demanded they marry other Indians. She and her husband are both doctors who met through a personal ad in an Indian newspaper.

"They certainly probably would prefer it, but they've also told us that 'It's your choice,'" she testified.

The jury is expected to begin its deliberations Wednesday afternoon, following closing arguments. If Rai is convicted of hiring a contract killer, the panel then must decide whether to sentence him to life or death.

The accused hit man, Cleveland Clark, faces his own death penalty trial.

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