Warner Robins Man Faces Trial in Wife's Killing

11:11 PM, Aug 20, 2012   |    comments
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James "Eddy" Clements

Jury selection finished Monday evening in a trial for a Warner Robins man accused of hiring two men to kill his wife.

James "Eddy" Clements faces 14 counts in all, including murder.
He's accused of recruiting a father and son, Robert and Richard Sybert, to kill Joni Clements last year.

She was found dead in her Warner Robins home, from multiple gunshot wounds a year ago last February.

The jury consists of 10 women and four men. There will be 12 jurors and two alternates.

The prosecution's team led by District Attorney George Hartwig and the defense team's Franklin and Laura Hogue questioned three panels of 14 potential jurors all day Monday.

Questions ranged from the juror's marital status to whether they know anyone involved in the Clements case including potential witnesses and on one panel they were asked if they knew anyone who died violently.

"We're interviewing them in panels of 14 at a time, both sides ask all their question it takes 30 to 40 minutes per side and so as you can imagine, an hour and a half per panel or so and each panel is going to come back and various times throughout the day," said Franklin Hogue, one of Clements' attorneys.  

Some family members have supported James Clements, saying he couldn't be involved in his wife's killing.

Houston District Attorney George Hartwig says he is seeking the death penalty for the accused shooter, Richard Sybert.