Hubby shooting wife at home on bail

BY TONIA N. CIMINO

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 5:59 PM EST

Barbara Sheehan, the 46-year-old mother of two who admitted to fatally shooting her husband in the back as he shaved - using his own guns - is “home with her kids” Raymond, 18, and Jennifer, 21, according to attorney Michael Dowd.

On Saturday, March 1, her “family put up everything they had” and posted the $1 million bail.

“I thought [the amount] was excessive, but the District Attorney’s office continued to protest to keep her in jail,” said Dowd. “I pointed out that they determined from witnesses that the abuse was over a period of 18 years.”

On Monday, February 18, Sheehan fired 11 rounds into retired police Sergeant Raymond Sheehan, 49, hitting major organs.

On Tuesday, February 19, she was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the second and the fourth degrees.

She was denied bail at the time.

However, Dowd claims his client acted in self-defense, saying, “the deceased was armed,” according to published reports.

“It’s the court’s feeling she does not pose a threat to society beyond what she’s accused of having done,” Queens Supreme Court Justice John Latella said in published reports at the last court proceedings.

Currently, Dowd said, they are in the process of setting up therapy for Sheehan.

“Anyone subjected to that kind of violence will probably suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” he said. “Even just dealing with this is a lot. She and her family are gathering themselves.”

Sheehan’s next court date is set for March 28. She faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.