AJT Exclusive Post-Sneiderman Verdict and Jury Returns Verdict of Guilty
ANDREA SNEIDERMAN SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON SPECIAL FOR THE AJT
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Neuman was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a jury found him guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt but mentally ill.” The “mentally ill” designation means that Neuman will receive health treatment in prison.
ndrea Sneiderman was sentenced to 5 years in prison on Tuesday (Aug. 20) after a jury found her guilty on nine of 13 felony counts linked to the death of her husband, Rusty, by her The case first exploded across the media in November of 2010, when it former boss Hemy Neuman. was learned a young father, dropping In an emotional trial that cap- one of his sons off at a day care center tured the attention of Atlanta’s Jew- in the quiet suburban community of ish community last year, Neuman Dunwoody, was shot and killed. was found guilty of fatally shooting Rusty Sneiderman outside a day care Many in the Jewish community either knew the Sneiderman’s, had center in Dunwoody. children attending the same day care DeKalb County prosecutors later center, or were friends with someone charged Andrea Sneiderman with close to the family. murder also, along with multiple counts of perjury and providing false Police reports and court testimony statements to law enforcement. But during the Neuman trial detailed the a few weeks before her trial began murder, showing that as Sneiderman in early August, the murder charges was returning to his car, a man in a fake beard approached him with a were dropped. handgun and shot him several times Sneiderman spent most of the at close range. The assailant then trial in recent weeks taking notes jumped in a silver van with license and focusing on the testimony of wit- plates and fled the scene. nesses detailing what appeared to be an affair between her and Neuman. Sneiderman was pronounced dead But it was a tense and, at times, at the Atlanta Medical Center soon frightened-looking Sneiderman who after. He was 36. listened quietly as the six-man, six- During Neuman’s murder trial, woman panel on Monday (Aug. 19) prosecutors portrayed him as a man convicted her on all but three per- smitten by Andrea Sneiderman. Tesjury counts and one count of provid- timony showed the two often traveled ing false statements to law enforce- together on business and, according ment. to witnesses, were seen dancing and One juror, interviewed by a WX- kissing. For her part, Sneiderman deIA-TV, said testimony made it clears nied having an affair with Neuman.
AUGUST 23 ▪ 2013
that Sneiderman had, in fact, been involved with Neuman and that during the course of the investigation into her husband’s death she had lied to authorities.
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Testimony also showed that Neuman rented a car around the time Sneiderman was murdered and, wearing a disguise, approached Sneiderman outside the day care cen “The state just did a better job,” ter in Dunwoody where Sneiderman another juror, who refused to give was shot. his name, told the Atlanta Journal- Dekalb County Judge Gregory AdConstitution. ams, who sentenced Neuman, called He added that jurors were swayed the murder “a planned execution.” by Sneiderman’s 2012 testimony during Neuman’s trial and the volume of emails exchanged between her and her former supervisor that seem to indicate the two were romantically involved.
The Sneidermans had two young children and several friends said the couple seemed happy. Now Rusty Sneiderman is dead, Andrea Sneiderman is in prison and the youngsters are living with Andrea’s parents in Johns Creek.
AJT talks with Insider Jay Abt, Attorney Feels Jury Got Verdict Right By Jeff Zell
AJT Contributor
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ay Abt has been very involved in the Andrea Sneiderman case as the attorney for Shayna Citron, Sneiderman’s former close friend and a key prosecution witness. Abt believes in Sneiderman’s guilt and spoke with the AJT about the verdict and sentencing in this case. Atlanta Jewish Times: What did you think of the verdict, guilty on nine of 13 counts? Jay Abt: I thought it was a fair and just verdict of a well-minded jury that realized that Andrea Sneiderman had committed a very serious crime. At that point, I felt that my client (Shayna Citron) and the community had been vindicated. AJT: What did you think of the sentencing? Five years concurrent, given credit for time served in house arrest. Abt: I thought it was very light. I was expecting Ms Sneiderman to get a more significant sentence, given the fact that she hindered a murder investigation, that she perjured herself in a murder trial, and that you know had a material effect on the district attorney office to prosecute. More importantly, I think that, when someone perjures themselves it’s a serious crime because it’s the very bedrock of our judicial system – that people come into court and tell the truth. When we have people that are willing to lie on the stand, it erodes our ability to bring justice. AJT: What did you think of Andrea’s words at the sentencing hearing? Abt: I think that she failed to apologize for her bad conduct, that she made excuses and used her children as a shield for the bad conduct, and that she begged for mercy because
she wanted to be with her kids. I didn’t hear her once say that she as sorry for what she’d done. AJT: The sentencing kind of makes me think that the judge believed Andrea Sneiderman, because the prosecution won the case. They asked for 20 years and she got five with credit for time served under house arrest. Does the sentence makes you think that the judge somewhat believed what she was saying? Abt: No. I think what – and I’m guessing because I don’t have access inside Judge Adams’ mind – but he’s a former juvenile court judge. So he takes issues involving children very, very seriously and I think he felt that those children who had already lost their father didn’t need to have their mother taken away forever also. I think that probably weighed heavily on him and that’s why he gave such a light sentence. AJT: What did you think about Rusty Sneiderman’s parents not going to the press conference because of the short sentence? Abt: I think that they’re distraught, and rightfully so. I think that they’re shocked. I think that they have been let down by the judicial system in Georgia almost at every turn. In terms of having visitation of their grandchildren, in terms of pursuing justice for Rusty against Andrea, and they feel let down. I can’t imagine how they feel given that the D.A. dropped the murder charges and that the judge only gave a five year sentence with credit for one year. The reality is that, based on the paroled guidelines in Georgia, Andrea Sneiderman will probably be out of prison in less than a year. AJT: Did Andrea’s attorneys err by not having her testify? Abt: Absolutely not. Andrea’s attorneys are some of the finest in the state. They did a tremendous job of getting murder charges dismissed