POLAND, Ohio -- For two years, police, prosecutors and thousands of ordinary people focused on how Dr. Gulam Moonda died. Now his family wants everyone to remember how he lived.

Dr. Moonda, 69, of Hermitage, Pa., was the victim in one of the region's most notorious crimes -- the Ohio Turnpike murder. A jury last week convicted his wife, Donna Moonda, of hiring her young lover to kill Dr. Moonda. They wanted his multimillion-dollar estate.

The same jury will decide next week whether Mrs. Moonda's punishment should be life in prison or death.

For those who were closest to Dr. Moonda, the case is essentially over, even though Donna Moonda's penalty still must be decided.

"We can now mourn in peace. The outcome does not change the fact that we lost him forever," Faroq Moonda, nephew of the victim, said during a news conference last night outside his home.

He announced that he and his wife, Afreen, are starting a trust fund in Gulam Moonda's name to continue his work in helping others.

Gulam Moonda made his living as a urologist, then spent a good portion of his earnings to build schools in his native India, Faroq Moonda said. Gulam Moonda also helped build a mosque in Youngstown, Ohio, and was a generous contributor to countless charities.

"He was an amazing human being who helped thousands of people in this country and in India," Faroq Moonda said. "Most of us can only hope to lead a life as complete as his."

Faroq Moonda, 33, immigrated to the United States when he was 14. Gulam Moonda adopted him. Faroq said he also became close to Donna Moonda, 48, after she married his uncle in 1990.

Faroq Moonda, now a physician, said his uncle inspired him.

"He was basically responsible for what I am today," he said.

He said he was shocked and hurt when he learned that Donna Moonda had masterminded his uncle's murder. She hired Damian Bradford, 26, with whom she was having an affair, to kill her husband in what was supposed to look like a highway robbery.

Mr. Bradford killed Dr. Moonda with a bullet to the face.

Faroq Moonda saw the shooter in court, when Mr. Bradford testified against Donna Moonda. He said Mr. Bradford looked at him, then mouthed the words, "I'm sorry."

"To me it showed he had some regret," Faroq Moonda said.

He said he had not spoken to Donna Moonda in about 18 months. She was arrested a year ago and has been in jail since.

Faroq Moonda said he may testify at the penalty phase of her trial. He declined to discuss what he would say.

Afreen Moonda, also a physician, said she believed Mr. Bradford played a part in solving the crime. After investigators built a massive case against him, Mr. Bradford pleaded guilty and outlined the murder plot that he said was created by Donna Moonda.

Mr. Bradford's plea bargain calls for him to receive a sentence of 17¹/₂ years in prison, but U.S. District Judge David Dowd is not required to accept it. Faroq Moonda said he hoped Mr. Bradford would spend his time in prison reflecting on the damage he has done.

As for Donna Moonda, Faroq said she had treated him like their son. When she was implicated, "I felt like I lost my mom."

He said he felt angry toward Donna Moonda for taking away his uncle. But now, Faroq said, he wants to do something positive to keep Gulam Moonda's memory alive.

Faroq Moonda said continuing his uncle's work will be more useful than dwelling on his terrible death at the hands of Donna Moonda and a hired killer.