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Defense: Andrea Sneiderman 'did nothing wrong'

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Opening statements started Monday in the trial of Andrea Sneiderman, who is accused of lying under oath and hindering the investigation into her husband's death.

A jury of six women and six men seated last week heard opening arguments from both sides Monday.

Channel 2's Jodie Fleischer was inside the DeKalb County courtroom, where prosecutors began laying out evidence they plan to present and the witnesses they will call. Prosecutors showed video clips of Andrea Sneiderman's testimony during the Hemy Neuman murder trial.

Her former boss from GE Energy is serving a life sentence for the murder of Rusty Sneiderman outside Dunwoody Prep Preschool in 2010.

Prosecutors also used audio and video recordings of Andrea Sneiderman's conversations with police in the days and months after her husband's murder. They allege she hindered their efforts to identify Neuman because she was having an affair with him.

"The evidence will show a forbidden romance that ends in murder; silence despite her suspicions, and lies to conceal the truth from her family from her friends, from the police, and from a jury," said prosecutor Kellie Hill.

"She didn't hide it. She didn't conceal it. She didn't know about it in advance. She didn't try to keep the cops from finding out. She didn't deny the relationship. She gave his name. She gave the motive and has cooperated time, and time, and time again," said defense attorney Tom Clegg.

The defense says Rusty Sneiderman was the love of Andrea Sneiderman's life, and all of the alleged lies listed in the indictment stem from conversations that took place while she was cooperating with law enforcement.

They said the state's case is based on speculation and will not be able to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and that Andrea Sneiderman's feisty demeanor on the stand at the Neuman trial is understandable, because she was under attack from the attorneys and was not going to take it lying down.

Channel 2 Action News will be in the courtroom for the entire trial. You can watch live everyday on wsbtv.com by clicking here and get updates on Channel 2 Action News at 4 p.m.