Judge Rejects Hemy Neuman's Appeal for New Trial

Hemy Neuman, the man found guilty but mentally ill two years ago in the 2010 killing of Dunwoody entrepreneur Russell "Rusty" Sneiderman, was denied a new trial on Monday by the same judge who sentenced him to life in prison in 2012.

Neuman was back in court earlier this month seeking a new trial.

Lawyers for Neuman contended that since perjured testimony from Sneiderman’s widow helped convict Neuman, he deserved a new hearing.

In August 2013, a jury found Andrea Sneiderman guilty on nine of 13 counts, including hindering apprehension of a criminal, making false statements and concealing a romantic relationship with Neuman, her former boss. 

Sneiderman's charges related to the investigation of the murder of her husband in November 2010 at a Dunwoody daycare center. 

Prosecutors had alleged that Sneiderman was dishonest with investigators, intentionally steering them away from her former supervisor at GE Energy, Neuman, concealing evidence that could have led to his capture sooner.

On Monday, DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams rejected Neuman’s attorney’s motion for a new trial, siding with prosecutors who said Sneiderman’s testimony was not crucial to the prosecution of Neuman.

Neuman’s lawyers have indicated they will seek a ruling from an appellate court. Read more from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday’s ruling here.

Neuman is currently serving life in prison without parole. Sneiderman was sentenced to five years on each count to run concurrently, but was given almost a year’s worth of credit for time served. She is eligible for parole in late April.

Neuman admitted killing Rusty Sneiderman, just after Sneiderman dropped his son off at a Dunwoody daycare center. Neuman pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity during the murder trial that gripped the nation for more than a month in early 2012.

His lawyers presented evidence that he believed he was visited by an angel and a demon that urged him to kill Sneiderman.

Neuman's defense attorneys cast blame on Andrea Sneiderman and said she manipulated a mentally ill man into killing her husband.

Neuman did not speak earlier this month in court in seeking a new trial. He did not testify in his own defense two years ago, and only said at his sentencing, "I am so, so, so sorry. I can't say it enough. I am sorry from the deepest part of me your honor. That's all I have."

See Also:

• Hemy Neuman Heads Back to Court, Seeks New Trial

• Neuman found Guilty but Mentally Ill; Gets Life Without Parole

• Andrea Sneiderman Found Guilty on Several Counts