By agreement of the parties, the parents of the late Rusty Sneiderman will spend two days this weekend with their grandchildren, their first extended visit since February.
But it's unclear when they'll see the youngsters, ages 6 and 3, next after a Thursday meeting with a Fulton County judge revealed little progress in the ongoing visitation dispute between Don and Marilyn Sneiderman and their daughter-in-law Andrea.
Randy Kessler, representing the parents of Rusty Sneiderman -- killed by Andrea's former boss at GE Energy, Hemy Neuman, in November 2010 -- said the two sides are closer to an agreement than they were a month ago, but significant issues remain.
Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane has urged a resolution before the next scheduled status conference June 28.
Neither side would comment on the ongoing negotiations addressed at Thursday's conference.
Hurdles that remain include a request from the Sneidermans that the court appoint a guardian ad liteim who would meet with both parties and act as the children's advocate in future court proceedings.
Andrea Sneiderman's attorneys object to a court-ordered guardian, saying in a court filing that their client "has gone out of her way to ensure in-person visitation between [the grandparents] and the children."
Don and Marilyn Sneiderman say otherwise. In court documents filed in late March, they said their daughter-in-law has “limited and most recently eliminated contact between the grandparents and the minor children."
Those documents were filed just a week after Neuman was found guilty of Rusty Sneiderman's murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Following the trial, DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he has “strong beliefs about Mrs. [Andrea] Sneiderman’s involvement” in her husband’s slaying.
James has since subpoenaed Channel 2 Action News for the entirety of the widow's testimony given during Neuman's murder trial, signaling criminal charges against the victim's widow could be imminent.
In an exclusive interview with the AJC following the Neuman trial, Rusty Sneiderman's father said his daughter in-law "knew in advance" of the fatal shooting.
"She knew then what was going on," Don Sneiderman told the AJC. "How she knew or what she knew, I don't know."
Andrea Sneiderman has maintained her innocence and, in her response to her in-law's court filing, said Rusty's parents were not acting in "the best interests" of their grandchildren by alleging she was involved in his death.
"Given [the Sneidermans'] publicly expressed animus toward [Andrea], it is remarkable -- and a testament to her character -- that she has admirably rose to the occasion and continued to offer time with the children," according to her response, filed April 18.
The document said it is difficult "to imagine anything that could demonstrate more ‘obvious animus' towards a family member" than the "unfounded allegation" that Andrea was complicit in her husband's death, the response states.
Those allegations were also made by prosecutors and the defense in Neuman's trial.
Following the verdict, defense attorney Doug Peters, repeating an assertion he made throughout the case, said, “I think the evidence in this case indicates quite clearly she knew how she wanted her husband murdered, and she manipulated Hemy Neuman to have it done.”
Both sides in the visitation dispute said Thursday they will continue working to reach a settlement in advance of the June 28 status conference.
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