Convicted Mastermind Behind Murder Case Takes Stand Against Accused Hitman

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Maryland dentist killed in cold blood. Wednesday, his convicted assistant took the stand against the accused hitman.

Weijia Jiang has her dramatic testimony.

The woman who admitted to orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot pointed right to the defendant when asked to identify the hitman.

On the witness stand, Shontay Hickman, 37, described the murder of her former boss, Dr. Albert Ro. The details were so gruesome, Ro's wife burst out of the courtroom in tears.

Hickman--who was Ro's dental assistant--says she hired her cousin as the hitman, 25-year-old Dante Jeter, who's on trial. Hickman told jurors in September 2006, she picked up Jeter and two of his friends. She says the foursome went to the office and the men stabbed and beat Ro to death.

Hickman says Ro said, "Please don't hurt me" and he said, "Take whatever you want" and at one point, he said, "Oh, God."

Hickman admits to stealing insurance checks from Ro, more than $17,000 worth. Worried about getting caught, she ordered the hit.

Jeter's defense attorneys argue Hickman is only testifying in exchange for a shorter sentence, 40 years in prison instead of life without parole. But Hickman insists it's to bring closure to Ro's loved ones.

She says, "I just want to come clean and be over with it so they can get through it and be done with having to go through this. I don't want them to have to keep reliving what happened."

Jeter faces several charges, including first-degree murder.

Hickman testified two other men are also responsible for Ro's death but police have yet to identify them.