First Day of Trial in Houston County Murder for Hire Case

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Jurors heard opening statements Tuesday morning in the trial of James ‘Eddy’ Clements.  Clements is charged with murder and is accused of hiring Richard and Robert Sybert to kill his wife, Joni Clements.  She was found dead at their Warner Robins home in February 2011.

During opening statements, the prosecution presented a power point presentation outlining the details of what they call “not your typical murder” case. Houston County District Attorney George Hartwig told jurors that Clements murder was planned and premeditated, and that her husband James was the mastermind behind it all.

Defense Attorney Laura Hogue argues that James and Joni had problems, but not enough to make him a murderer. The defense is arguing that Richard Sybert is mentally challenged and was seeking Clements approval.

“Eddy Clements is a big talker. He called her names, he may have even wished she was dead. Saying a thing you never meant, to a person who couldn’t understand, doesn’t make you a murderer,” Hogue said during opening statements.

After opening statements, eight witnesses were called to the stand including the Clements’ daughter, 22-year-old Jorden Clements. While on the stand, Jorden described her home life and confirmed that the Sybert’s were friends of the family. Clements dated Travis Sybert, Richard and Robert’s Sybert’s relative. She also testified that the week before her mother’s murder someone tried to break into the family’s home.

Jorden Clement’s current boyfriend Christopher Mixon also took the stand. Along with his testimony, jurors heard the chilling 911 call Mixon made the night he discovered Joni’s body.

Mixon is heard saying “Oh my God. There’s blood. There’s blood everywhere.”

Sgt. Eric Gossman with the Warner Robins Police Department was the the supervising officer on the scene the night of Joni’s murder. He testified that Eddy Clements behaved oddly when he arrived on the scene.

Gossman said, “I told him, ‘Something bad has happened to your wife. I need you stay here.’ He just said, ‘I’ve been at work. I have to clock in and out, my coworkers can verify that.”

Mark Rodriguez, Eddy’s former coworker and an aircraft mechanic at Robins Air Force Base testified that Eddy asked him if he knew someone who would “do a hit for money”.

Defense Attorney Frank Hogue told 41 NBC there is no evidence that Clement’s ever intended to pay Richard Sybert or that there was ever an exchange of money.

Eddy’s friend Miranda Rights testified that shortly after Joni died, Eddy mentioned having a “model friend” come and move in with him.

Rights said she loved Eddy and said he was one of the few people in her life that respected her before and after her gender and name change.

Joni’s Murder

On February 8, 2011, Joni Clements was shot and killed in her Warner Robins home on Westwood Drive. Her body was discovered in the master bedroom hours later by her daughter’s boyfriend Christopher Mixon. The  prosecution says nothing was taken and there were no signs of forced entry.

Shortly, after Mixon discovered the body, Clement’s daughter Jorden arrived on the scene. Eddy Clements arrives shortly after Jorden.

A couple in the neighborhood recalls seeing a person fleeing from the Clements’ house that night. Richard Sybert is the alleged shooter and his father Robert Sybert is the alleged driver. Both men made a deal with the district attorney to plead guilty in exchange for lesser sentencing.

Jurors will now have to decide this: did Eddy Clements hire the Syberts to kill his wife, or did the Syberts act alone?

Joni’s friends and family, along with the Sybert family were in court Tuesday to observe the proceedings and appeared distraught and upset by the testimony.

The trial is expected to last until the end of the week.