By TIM HAECK
KIRO Radio

In a murder-for-hire trial, a former manager testifies about disagreement, tension and anger in the workplace at Clearly Lasik.

CEO Christian Monea testified Clearly Lasik was an intense place to work in the summer and fall of 2009. One source of anger was a dispute between partners Michael Mockovak and Joseph King over the work schedule at the Renton clinic.

Of Mockovak, Monea testified, "Oh, he was very angry at Dr. King."

When the prosecutor asked the witness to rate Mockovak's anger on a scale of one-through-five, Monea replied, "This is a five."

Monea also testified there was disagreement over work schedules and the dollar value of the eye surgery business.

"Doctor King felt as though here's his partner who is out to screw him, for lack of a better word, I think that was the term that was used," testified Monea.

King County prosecutors accuse Mockovak, 52, of trying to hire a hit man to kill his business partner and collect on a $4 million "key man" life insurance policy. Mockovak is charged with two counts of solicitation to commit first degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit theft and attempted theft.

Doctor Michael Mockovak was arrested in November 2009 after giving money to a man who was actually an FBI informant to have his partner, Doctor Joseph King, murdered.

Doctor King is scheduled to testify against Mockovak Wednesday afternoon.

Tim Haeck, 97.3 KIRO FM Reporter