A South Asian-American story that involves murder, race and more. From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Eight years ago Chiman Rai allegedly paid Mississippi hit men $10,000 to choke and stab his daughter-in law to death in her Union City apartment while her seven-month-old daughter was nearby.
Her offense? She married his son, an Indian.
Chiman Rai
Sparkle Michelle Rai
And she was black.
On Monday Rai, 69, goes on trial in Atlanta for masterminding the murder of Sparkle Michelle Rai, 22. Fulton County prosecutors are asking for the death penalty as the family of the murder victim seeks finally to see justice served.
"The prosecutors have done a good job with this," said Rai's father, Bennet Reid Jr., Saturday. "We'll be there in the courtroom. For years my daughter has had no voice. Now, finally, her voice will be heard."
Rai, a native of India, brought his family to the U.S. in 1970. He taught math at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, later ran a supermarket and then bought a hotel in Louisville, Ky. where he hired Sparkle as a clerk.
There Sparkle met his son 18-year-old, Rajeeve "Ricky" Rai, who also worked at the hotel. The two fell in love and married.
Sparkle's father and stepmother, Donna Lowry, a reporter for WXIA-TV in Atlanta, recalled later that Rai's family at first seemed to approve of their 18-year-old son dating a black woman.
But, said prosecutors, in April 2000 - a month after Sparkle and Ricky were married - a contract killer showed up at the door of the newlywed's Union City apartment, along with two women pretending to deliver a package.
This case is getting a lot of coverage. Some recent items - you can track some of the story at this Google News link:
Murder trial: Criticism of 'racist' parents retracted Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - By STEVE VISSER Rajeeve "Ricky" Rai testified today in his father's death penalty trial and backed off some statements earlier made to police. ... |
Man accused of Ga. contract killing of son's wife The Associated Press - ATLANTA (AP) — Theirs was a whirlwind relationship: The 18-year-old running his dad's hotel in Kentucky and the 20-year-old Atlanta native hired as a clerk. ... |
Trial begins for man charged in death of son's black wife Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - By STEVE VISSER Nearly eight years ago, Sparkle Reid Rai opened the door of her Union City apartment, holding her 7-month-old baby in her arms, ... |
FOXNews -
ATLANTA — A former math professor at a historically black university goes on trial Monday, charged with arranging the contract killing of his black ...
Post updates, comments below.
See SAJAforum U.S. Desi Crime Map - a work in progress, unfortunately.
