CLEMENTS TRIAL UPDATE: Alleged Gunman Testifies

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Richard Sybert wiped away tears Thursday as he testified to shooting and killing Joni Clements.

“I confessed to this, that’s why all three of us are here today. I became a man, that’s a coward sitting right there,” Sybert said from the stand.

Clements is accused of hiring Robert and Richard Sybert to murder his wife Joni Clements. She was shot and killed in her home in Warner Robins last February. On the stand, Richard Sybert gave a detailed account of the events leading up to Joni Clement’s murder.

According to Sybert’s testimony, he met with Clements several times before the murder and his father Robert Clements was there for all the meetings. Sybert said whenever they always talked about killing Joni.

“He wanted Joni Clements shot fatally, he didn’t want it any other way,” Sybert testified. He said James Clements gave him a key to the Clements’ home.

On Feb. 8, 2011, Sybert said Clements told him Joni would be filing taxes alone at the house around 6 p.m.

Sybert said he entered the Clements’ house using the key he was given and saw Joni at the top of the stairs. He told Joni he was there to give her the key and then he showed her the firearm. Sybert testified Joni said “Oh my God, don’t shoot me!” He told Joni to go upstairs where Sybert said she again said “don’t shoot me”. Sybert said he “couldn’t listen to that one more time so I closed my eyes and shot her”.

Sybert testified that Clements offered him money, a stripper and a car. He said he wanted to earn his father’s respect. He also said that Clements threatened to kill his brother Johnathan Sybert. During cross examination, Defense Attorney Frank Hogue questioned these statements.

Hogue found several inconsistencies between Sybert’s testimony and one of Sybert’s previous statements. Jurors will hear some of Sybert’s statements Friday.