Widow shares emotional message after guilty verdict in Hemy Neuman murder trial

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County jury has found Hemy Neuman guilty once again in the shooting death of Rusty Sneiderman outside a Dunwoody day care nearly six years ago.

Neuman was found guilty after a retrial. Jurors deliberated for 3½ hours before reaching their decision.  %

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"We ask you to impose your sentence on him as he did on us, life without the possibility of parole," said Steve Sneiderman, Rusty’s brother.

Judge Gregory Adams handed down that sentence.

Steve Sneiderman said Neuman acted as judge, jury and executioner when he pulled the trigger and killed Rusty in 2010.

Prosecutors argued that the motive was clear: Neuman wanted to be with Rusty Sneiderman’s wife, Andrea.

"There was no due process, no reading of his Miranda rights, no defenses to be raised or considered by a jury," Steve Sneiderman said.

"This was cold, this was calculated, this was cruel," said DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James.

Neuman’s lawyer, Letita Delan, fought for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

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"We are very disappointed with the jury's verdict and will begin working on the appeal immediately," Delan said.

"Let us move on, knowing that this confessed and now duly convicted killer can never walk amongst us again," Steve Sneiderman said.

As the judge handed down Neuman's sentence Tuesday afternoon, Rusty’s widow, Andrea, sent an exclusive statement to Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik, reacting to Neuman’s conviction.

Andrea Sneiderman has always denied that she had an affair with Neuman. She said she can now get on with grieving her husband's loss.%

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“I am relieved that the legal system has condemned this cold-blooded killer to a sentence of life in prison where he belongs," Andrea Sneiderman's statement read. "After a six-year ordeal, millions of taxpayer dollars spent, a DA's personal vendetta and my own public persecution by those who wanted to profit from my loss, this monster's calculated efforts to destroy lives is finally over. His path of destruction has come to an end and the healing process for all of his victims can begin.

“Despite being wrongfully accused of murder, imprisoned, separated from my children and used by the state, defense and media when it was convenient for them, I finally have the opportunity to begin to grieve. This trial has shown what the focus of the first trial should have been: A lying, manipulative, and calculating sociopath who selfishly took my husband's life to fulfill some twisted fantasy that he alone concocted in order to mentally cope with his own miserable existence.

“Unlike this embodiment of pure evil, Rusty was an amazing man, and a wonderful husband and father. No one that truly knew us would ever doubt my loyalty, love or dedication to him and our family. He is missed every day by me, my children and so many others who have helped to provide support to myself and my family during this impossible time.”

Petchenik also spoke with the attorney for Neuman's ex-wife, Reli.

"I'm thrilled the jury was able to see through the mental health charade that Hemy Neuman put on," attorney Esther Panitch told Petchenik.

Panitch said her client is relieved that Neuman will spend the rest of his life in prison.

“(I'm) very relieved that this is over, again," Panitch said.

Neuman's defense attorneys said they will appeal his conviction and sentence. They said they are convinced that he was mentally ill at the time of the killing and remains so today.

Cox Media Group