Andrea Sneiderman's defenders are expected to speak publicly for the first time Tuesday at a bond hearing for the Dunwoody widow, who is accused of conspiring with her former boss to kill her husband.
"You're going to hear from a number of her friends and family," defense co-counsel Doug Chalmers said. They have remained silent, he said, "out of respect for the legal process" but are "absolutely convinced of her innocence and are anxious to speak out at the right time."
The stakes are high. Sneiderman has been locked up in DeKalb County Jail since her arrest Aug. 2. No trial date has been set. The mother of two is charged with malice murder, attempted murder, insurance fraud, racketeering and two counts of perjury and false statements in the November 2010 murder of her husband Rusty Sneiderman outside a Dunwoody day care center.
Her former supervisor, Hemy Neuman, arrested in January 2011 and subsequently found guilty but mentally ill for the killing, waited 13 months to stand trial after his bond was denied.
In order to have their client released from custody, Andrea Sneiderman's attorneys will have to prove that she's not a flight risk, poses no danger to the community and won't intimidate witnesses or attempt to obstruct justice.
The last provision may prove the toughest hurdle for the defense. During Neuman's trial, Sneiderman was barred from the DeKalb County Courthouse by Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams after she hugged prosecution witness and former best friend Shayna Citron.
Then, DeKalb Chief Deputy District Attorney Don Geary argued that Sneiderman repeatedly ignored his admonitions to not speak with witnesses. Citron's lawyer, Jay Abt, said Sneiderman threatened his client outside the courtroom.
Adams is the presiding judge at Tuesday's hearing.
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