The prosecution rested its case Tuesday afternoon in the Hemy Neuman trial, but not before an FBI cell phone analysis expert told jurors that during a seven-month period in 2010, victim Rusty Sneiderman's widow had far more cell phone contacts with the defendant than she did with her own husband.
Earlier in the day, it was revealed in DeKalb County Superior Court that Neuman told Dunwoody police the day after his arrest that he was ready to talk about Rusty Sneiderman’s shooting.
“I want to end the circus,” defense attorney Bob Rubin quoted his client as saying during a Jan. 5, 2011 interview with police. “I want to get this over with so people can get on with their miserable lives.”
The revelation came during defense cross-examination of Dunwoody police Lt. David Barnes, who was among the early interrogators of Neuman after his arrest on Jan. 4, 2011. Neuman initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea in September to not guilty by reason of insanity. He has, through his attorneys, acknowledged the shooting.
Neuman admitted nothing on the day of his arrest, though. When faced with evidence connecting him to the rental van seen driving away from Dunwoody Prep after Sneiderman had been shot four times, Neuman said, in videotaped evidence, “It doesn’t look good.”
Sneiderman was shot outside the daycare facility on Nov. 18, 2010, shortly after dropping his son off.
Meanwhile, as the prosecution wrapped up its case, the defense provided more clues that they will focus heavily on the victim's widow, Andrea Sneiderman.
Rubin quizzed Barnes on what Andrea Sneiderman did not tell police regarding her relationship with Neuman, her supervisor at GE Energy.
Barnes testified that Sneiderman left out several details about the trips and emails she shared with Neuman.
Later, Barnes, under questioning from DeKalb District Attorney Robert James, acknowledged becoming suspicious of Andrea Sneiderman on Jan. 5, 2011. Specifically, Barnes said he was not satisfied with her explanation for waiting six days to tell police that she believed Neuman was the shooter.
Rubin, during his cross-examination of Barnes, noted how his client’s account jibed with that told by Andrea Sneiderman about their relationship.
“He told you he had made an advance on her,” Rubin said to Barnes. “He told you she drew a line very clearly that, despite his desire, she had stopped it cold. Mrs. Sneiderman said he had made an advance and she had rebuffed it. “
Andrea Sneiderman, barred from the DeKalb courthouse last week after prosecutors alleged she interfered with witnesses, testified she was not involved in an illicit affair with her former boss, as both the prosecution and defense have alleged. She has not been charged in her husband’s shooting.
She could be called to testify by the defense, which will begin presenting its case Wednesday.
The prosecution wrapped up Tuesday with FBI computer and cell phone analysis experts testifying about Neuman's electronic trail.
FBI Special Agent David A. Freiman told jurors that his forensic evaluation of Neuman’s iPhone and iPad found numerous searches for the terms “gun,” “range,” costume,” and the phrase “can police trace cell phone?”
FBI Special Agent Chad Fitzgerald said that an analysis of calls and text messages to and from Andrea Sneiderman’s phone between May 1 and Nov. 18, 2010 showed 1,446 contacts with Neuman compared to 882 contacts with her husband.
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