Accused killer Hemy Neuman came face-to-face with his estranged wife Wednesday during a motions hearing in DeKalb County Superior Court, the first time they had seen each other since his arrest in early January.
Rusty Sneiderman's alleged killer seemed taken aback by the presence of his wife of 22 years, called to the stand by DeKalb assistant district attorney Don Geary. Prosecutors are not required to supply witness lists for such preliminary hearings.
Ariela Neuman largely avoided eye contact with her husband, who supervised Sneiderman's widow, Andrea, at GE Energy.
"I gave [police] permission to take everything they want," testified Ariela Neuman, who said she learned of her husband's arrest from Dunwoody police. The defense had challenged a search warrant of the couple's home in which authorities seized the defendant's personal computer.
The Neumans recently reached a settlement of the separation suit filed by Ariela shortly after her husband was charged with Sneiderman's murder. Her attorney, Esther Panitch, has repeatedly stated that her client believes Neuman and Andrea Sneiderman were having an affair in the months leading up to the shooting.
Ariela Neuman has not visited her husband in jail, Panitch said.
"My client has been placed in a very unfortunate position," Panitch said. "We are hopeful that she will not need to appear again as she tries to move forward with her life in the wake of this devastating trauma related to the outcome of an affair between her husband and Andrea Sneiderman."
Sneiderman has not addressed the allegations of an extramarital relationship. She was not present in court Wednesday.
Neuman's trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 17. Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams has yet to rule on the defense's motions to dismiss their client's statement to police the day he was arrested and some of the search warrants procured by Dunwoody police.
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