(NY) No charges for wife who shot and killed her husband

(NY) No charges for wife who shot and killed her husband
Date: Jul 10, 2005 7:53 PM
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http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/?ArID=139244&SecID=33

No charges for wife who shot and killed her husband
Updated: 7/9/2005 10:27 AM
By: Capital News 9 web staff



Hamilton County investigators said Joan O'Neill shot her husband in the back, killing him inside their home in the Town of Wells. Joan was charged with Second Degree murder. Now, the grand jury has reached a different conclusion.

"She will face no criminal charges and no prosecution for the events that took place on May 4," said Special Prosecutor Louise Sira.

At a press conference, Special Prosecutor Louise Sira painted a dark picture of how the events unfolded over the years.

"Mr. O'Neill has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. He is a combat veteran of Vietnam," said Sira.

He is also decorated for saving another soldier's life. But Sira said the stress that ended his career as a Schenectady police officer also led to threats against his family, and were backed up by the nine illegally owned and loaded handguns he kept around the house.


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Woman cleared by Grand Jury

A Grand Jury cleared a Town of Wells woman who shot and killed her husband in early May.








"Mr. O'Neill made it extremely clear to Mrs. O'Neill that if she called the police again, he would kill the police officer who came to the house," said Sira.

Officials said Robert chose their Pumpkin Hollow Road home based on its strategic location. It overlooks Route 30 and Pumpkin Hollow Road, and the high ground usually wins in a battle. That's one reason why officials said the threats were taken so seriously.

Mrs. O'Neill's attorney said a visit from the police would have led to tragedy.

Attorney William Martuscello said, "He was going to be ready for them. It was going to be a blood bath."

It came to a head May 4. Officials said Robert got into a fight with his son, and things quickly got out of hand.

"Mrs. O'Neill heard the bolt action of the rifle that had been broken in the previous altercation," said Sira.

And that's when Joan made the decision to end the fight, without risking the lives of police officers who would be targeted if called to the scene