SEATTLE, Wash-- The man accused of a murder-for-hire plot pleaded not guilty in a Seattle courtroom Wednesday.
Dr. Michael Mockovak is accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill his business partner and a former employee. Mockovak is the co-founder of Clearly Lasik, a prominent northwest business worth millions.
According to investigators, he had been talking for months about trying to kill off his partner Dr. Joseph King, and collecting part of his life insurance.
Wednesday for the first time, a visibly shaken King faced his partner.
"He knows so many details about our lives, that I am tremendously concerned," he said. "And if he's released, he'll come to finish the job."
Bail is set at $2 million. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 16th.
