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Attorneys seek to block Hemy Neuman from testifying in widow’s trial

Andrea Sneiderman enters Judge Gregory A. Adams courtroom on April 10, 2013. She was attending a hearing to eliminate the non-murder counts from her indictment.
Andrea Sneiderman enters Judge Gregory A. Adams courtroom on April 10, 2013. She was attending a hearing to eliminate the non-murder counts from her indictment.
By Christian Boone
June 10, 2013

The man prosecutors say conspired with Andrea Sneiderman to kill her husband is expected to be called to testify against the Dunwoody widow in her upcoming murder trial.

But the defense says they believe Hemy Neuman — convicted in March 2012 of killing Rusty Sneiderman outside a Dunwoody day care facility — will invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, filing a motion late Friday to prohibit the state from calling him before a jury. Neuman’s lawyers declined comment Monday.

Andrea Sneiderman, facing malice murder and felony murder charges, has denied any involvement in her husband’s death and insists she was never romantically involved with Neuman, who was her supervisor at GE Energy.

Her attorneys have also petitioned the judge to require prosecutors to provide the names of witnesses who will be called to testify about conversations they had with Neuman about the alleged affair.

Realtor Melanie White testified at Neuman’s trial that her friend confided that he shared a bed with Sneiderman while on a business trip to London. White said she told Neuman that Sneiderman “has you on a yo-yo emotionally. She keeps lifting you up, then knocking you down.”

Sneiderman testified she had “no choice” but to put up with the unwanted advances from Neuman, for the sake of her career. She said she shied away from her boss — who at one point asked her to marry him — whenever possible.

Prosecutors maintain Sneiderman tried to cover up the alleged affair, and Dunwoody Police Chief Billy Grogan told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year that his investigators concluded the mother of two was lying about her relationship with Neuman.

Sneiderman’s trial is scheduled to begin July 29. Neuman’s lawyers plan to file an appeal of his murder conviction soon after.

About the Author

A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.

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