Battle over psychological notes in murder case

Barbara Sheehan, the allegedly abused woman who fatally shot her retired police sergeant husband in their Howard Beach home last February, is “doing as well as one might expect,” according to her attorney.
Her last court date was Tuesday, April 14, at which time lawyer Michael Dowd filed paperwork and continued the “battle over whether some notes taken by a defense psychologist be made available to the prosecution.”
The defense is against this, said Dowd.
Years of alleged abuse by her husband, retired police Sergeant Raymond Sheehan, 49, allegedly caused Barbara to snap and kill him inside their Howard Beach home on Monday, February 18, 2008, according to the defense.
“I shot him! I shot him! I think he’s dead. He’s in the bathroom,” Barbara told officers of the 106th Precinct when they responded to the home at 99-08 158th Avenue.
A prior altercation on Sunday, February 16 ended when Raymond allegedly broke his wife’s nose over an argument about a planned Florida business trip. After he hit her, he took her to St. John’s Queens Hospital, where she was treated, according to reports.
However, the next day, Barbara fired 11 rounds into his back as he shaved, hitting major organs, according to a medical examiner.
At least one neighbor heard gunshots at around noon, but for whatever reason did not call police.
Raymond’s body – clad only in underwear – was found in a second-floor bathroom.
On Tuesday, February 19, 2008 she was arraigned on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the second and the fourth degrees.
She pleaded not guilty.
More than a year later, Barbara has been free on $1 million bail. She is still living in the Howard Beach home she shared with her husband and two children.
Dowd told The Courier that she still suffers from the after-effects of the abuse, but that she is receiving help from different battered women’s groups, including STEPS to End Family Violence.
Her children have been supportive of her “because they witnessed a lot of the violence,” said Dowd. “They are gravely concerned about a trail,” which he called a “real possibility.”
However, if the case does go to trial, Dowd suspects it will not begin until after Labor Day, at which point he will proceed “with the premise that she was acting in self defense.”
He will also bring in experts, he said.
Her next court date is set for April 27.