By Joe Anuta
Barbara Sheehan, the Howard Beach school secretary who was acquitted of murder last month but found guilty of gun possession in the shooting of her husband, was sentenced to five years behind bars and 2 1/2 years of post supervision Thursday morning.
The sentence was handed down by Supreme Court Judge Barry Kron for the Feb. 18, 2008 incident in which Sheehan killed her husband, retired NYPD cop Raymond Sheehan, by firing at him 11 times with two guns. Sheehan and her lawyer, Michael Dowd, insisted she acted in self -defense after he abused her for many years.
“I think it is a horrifying message for battered women,” Dowd said on the steps of Queens Supreme Court after the ruling.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
