The defense called its first witnesses Monday in the Muttontown slave case in a Central Islip courtroom.

A general contractor who did work at Mahender and Varsha Sabhnani's home, a friend of the couple's 17-year-old son and others took the stand.

Among the witnesses was a graphic designer who has known the Sabhnanis for 15 years. He testified that he was at the home a day before the couple's maids ran away. He said the women were not in pain and acted normal.

He also suggested that discolorations seen in pictures after the Indonesian women claimed to have been beaten were really blemishes.

Federal agents are scheduled to testify Tuesday.

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