Sentencing Phase Begins in Hit Man Cleveland Clark Trial

The sentencing phase of a man convicted of murdering a Union City mother began Monday.

In a 17-minute outburst convicted murdered Cleveland Clark -- while waving papers -- said he was in prison at the time Sparkle Rai was killed and that he was innocent.

Clark was found guilty of murder by a jury Friday. Clark faces the death penalty in the killing of Rai in April 2000.

Prosecutors said Clark strangled 22-year-old Sparkle Rai in front of her baby.

Chiman Rai -- a Mississippi business man bo in India – was sentenced to life in prison without parole last year for masterminding the death of his daughter-in-law.

During the trial, prosecutors argued Chiman Rai believed the 22-year-old woman would bring down the family stock.

Sparkle Rai was found strangled with a vacuum cord and stabbed more than a dozen times weeks after her March 2000 wedding to Rai's son, Ricky Rai.