Andrea Sneiderman, charged with conspiring to murder her husband Rusty Sneiderman, was granted a $500,000 bond in DeKalb County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Judge Gregory Adams said Sneiderman must pay $250,000 of the bond in cash. If released, she will be under house arrest at her parents' place and must wear an ankle monitor. She must also surrender her passport and those of her children's.
She will be released from the DeKalb County jail if and when she posts bond and is processed out of jail, DeKalb sheriff's Sgt. Adrion Bell said in an email. The length of that process depends in part on how quickly the bonding company responds and how many other inmates are waiting to be released, he said.
Sneiderman was arrested Aug. 2 and charged with malice murder, attempted murder, insurance fraud, racketeering and two counts of perjury and false statements in the November 2010 fatal shooting of her husband outside a Dunwoody day care center. Her former supervisor, Hemy Neuman, was sentenced to life in prison for pulling the trigger.
No trial date has been set for Sneiderman. Her attorneys have indicated they will seek a change of venue.
Prosecutors revealed last week they will pursue a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the woman.
Testimony today:
- The hearing opened with Andrea Sneiderman's father, Herb Greenberg, taking the stand and answering questions from a defense attorney. He said Andrea was a model child and followed rules. He said he would devote his life to making sure she followed any rules set forth by a judge if bond is granted.
- Next on the stand was a friend of Rusty and Andrea, Jefferey Moss. He said Andrea would not flee prosecution or intimidate witnesses if granted bond.
- Charles Lipman, CEO of DiversiTech, an air conditioning parts manufacturer, testified he has known Andrea for four years and "she is committed to living here in Atlanta." Lipman said there was zero risk of her fleeing. "She knew there was a chance of her being charged and she stayed," Lipman said.
- A family friend, Tammi Parker, testified she was never approached by Andrea Sneiderman before testifying in the Neuman murder trial.
- A rabbi, Hirsch Minkowicz, said he met Andrea the day after the shooting. He said Andrea is now an active member of his synagogue near Johns Creek. He said he had heard Andrea elected not to take an overseas trip after the Neuman trial. He said she would not flee prosecution or intimidate witnesses if granted bond.
- The judge ordered a three-minute break at 2:46.
- Attorney Jay Abt, who represented a friend of Andrea Sneiderman's during the Neuman trial, Shayna Citron, testified he saw the accused approach his client after Citron's testimony and embrace and kiss her in the courtroom. Outside the courtroom he said he saw Sneiderman's demeanor change "180 degrees." Abt said Sneiderman was yelling at Citron and waving her finger in Citron's face. He said Andrea told his client, "Now you're going to have to live with what I am going to do to you." He described Sneiderman's actions as "very threatening" to his client. On cross-examination, Abt said there was no specific threat. He told the DeKalb District Attorney's Office of the event. Citron is not at the bond hearing, Abt said.
- The defense called to the stand a friend of Sneiderman, Joanne Powers, who also said she saw Sneiderman and Citron embrace in the courtroom. She said she went outside and observed Sneiderman and Citron sitting on a bench holding hands as though they were friends. She said she heard Sneiderman say "I need people around me who trust me and believe in me and you don't believe in me so we can't be friends." Powers said Sneiderman's voice and demeanor was loving and kind, not threatening.
- Candice Keilin said she was a friend of Andrea and Rusty. She said she spoke to Citron this summer at a PTA breakfast. Prosecutors objected to the defense line of questioning and Keilin left the stand.
- In closing, a defense attorney told the judge, "We want this woman out of jail to help us prepare our case." He asked that a reasonable bond be granted. He said his client would accept an electronic ankle bracelet, if necessary.
- A prosecutor said Sneiderman's motive to flee prosecution is now "in the extreme" and asked bond be denied. He said the court was forced to "remove a murder victim's spouse" from the Neuman trial because she attempted to intimidate a witness. The prosecutor said Steve Sneiderman, the brother of Rusty Sneiderman, asks the court to not grant bond. If bond is granted, the prosecutor asked the judge to seize the passports of Sneiderman and her children.
- The court took a break at 3:46.
- Court resumed at 4:23.
- Judge Adams set bond at $500,000; $250,000 must be in cash. Sneiderman was ordered to not speak with any potential witnesses. Her passport and that of her children must be surrendered. She must live with her parents and wear an ankle monitor.
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