RIKER'S ISLAND, NY (PIX11)—
"I love you Mommy," were Barbara Sheehan daughter Jennifer's last words before her mother was taken to prison on a weapons charge.Sheehan was found not guilty of murdering her husband after years of suffering domestic violence and fearing for her life the morning she shot him. But because a jury said she was guilty of using one of the 2 guns, she's facing up to 15 years in prison.
It was an emotional morning as Sheehan's daughter, sister and mother all wept in court while Sheehan resolutely offered her hands to a court officer who cuffed her and took her off to Riker's Island.
Barbara Sheehan broke down in tears Wednesday on the courthouse steps moments before surrendering herself to start serving time. Her attorney Michael Dowd said, "Hell isn't quite over for her yet."
But Raymond Sheehan's twin brother Vincent, who hasn't missed a day of the month long proceedings had a different take, "She got away with it," was all he could say.
Sheehan's legal team made a last minute application to keep her out on bail while she awaits sentencing on the gun charge. She was acquitted of the murder charge last week which carried a 25-years-to-life sentence, but a jury found she illegally possessed one of the guns used to shoot her husband of 24 years, a retired police officer. Lawyers are already preparing their appeal.
Jennifer Joyce spoke on the courthouse steps moments after her mother was taken away in cuffs, "It's a little bit frustrating that she might go to jail because she was defending herself. We don't think she should be in jail."
Sheehan's team made a legal hail Mary pass trying to get her sprung from jail, but an appellate judge ruled that prosecutors needed more time, and Sheehan will at the very least spend 10 days on Riker's Island.
Michael Dowd said, "The first time I met Barbara Sheehan was on Riker's Island, she said to me then, at least I'm safe. We believe the law will make her free."
Dowd and his team plan to appeal on the grounds that the psychologist who interviewed Barbara after the shooting was not allowed to testify on her behalf. They also plan to ask for text messages that were exchanged between Barbara and her husband in the days before the shootings as they believe the messages may provide extra clues as to Raymond Sheehan's mindset and whether his violence towards Barbara was escalating in the days leading up to the violent encounter that ended his life.
