David Metter Testifies About Business, Financial Affairs

David Metter’s wife became emotional this morning when she testified in the murder-for-hire trial of Christine Metter.

Eight-by-ten-inch prints of David Metter were on a table in front of the witness stand when Loni Metter sat down.

Loni Metter hid her face with her hand, and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Neroda seemed to realize what the problem was. She asked the judge if she could turn the prints face down.

Loni Metter was also questioned about emails Patrick Sabo sent her, one asking for money, after the sting that led to Christine Metter’s arrest.

 after prosecutors say she and Zombory tried to hire a hit man to kill David Metter, her ex-husband. Zombory is to be tried later.

The jury also heard the last of this morning, when defense attorney Michael Lear questioned him about his financial and business circumstances.

One marital asset that was delegated to Christine Metter during their divorce proceedings was a business called System Works Marketing. David Metter said that the business was one reason that he was not required to pay alimony to Christine Metter.

He paid just over $3,000 per month in child support.

System Works’ only client, Mile One, employed David Metter. In the summer of 2010, Mile One fired System Works, citing poor performance. Lear questioned the ethics of the move, and pointed out that Mile One employs Loni Metter’s company for marketing. David and Loni Metter asserted that the company does not perform the same tasks for Mile One.

David Metter also revealed that he had hired a private investigator in May of 2009 — the couple separated in January of 2009 — who had concluded that Christine Metter was dating a man.

Wednesday David Metter testified that Christine Metter had insisted that he place his $1.5 million life insurance policy in her name. Today he added that Christine Metter's $500,000 policy is in David Metter's name.

Michael Lear questioned David Metter about an email he sent to Christine Metter May 26. David Metter said that she had emailed him more than once about their daughters’ flight plans to visit him that weekend.

He responded, “Why don’t you just pull up the emails with the information on them and quit wasting everyone’s time with your idiotic crap?”

The state will hear from Detective Christopher Bowersock, who worked undercover on the case, next.

Metter is in Lake County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

Watch Beachwood Patch for updates as they unfold, and follow @BeachwoodPatch on Twitter for the latest updates.

 His trial is scheduled for Jan. 31.