Exclusive: Barbara Sheehan Says 'I Don't Belong' In Prison
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Queens woman who was convicted of a gun charge in connection with the death of her allegedly abusive husband is now turning to Albany in hopes of being released from prison.
Barbara Sheehan has been behind bars for the past six months. She began serving her five-year sentence earlier this year after a gun possession conviction was upheld.
But in an exclusive interview from prison with 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera, Sheehan said she is hoping Gov. Andrew Cuomo will let her out early.
Exclusive: Barbara Sheehan Says 'I Don't Belong' In Prison
"It's very difficult," she said. "The most difficult part is being away from my family, my friends and then sitting in jail, depending on the state to take care of me. I just don't believe I belong here."
In 2008, Sheehan fatally shot her husband, retired NYPD Sgt. Raymond Sheehan, nearly a dozen times with his two guns.
During her trial in 2011, Sheehan testified she feared for her life and shot her husband in self-defense after he threatened to kill her if she didn't go with him on a Florida vacation.
The Howard Beach woman was acquitted of murder, but found guilty on one charge of criminal possession of a weapon.
The jury convicted Sheehan only of picking up and using one of her husband's guns, apparently agreeing with Sheehan's claim she fired the first gun in self-defense.
"I shouldn't have really been found guilty of that charge," she said. "I suffered 18 years in an abusive marriage. I'm still suffering and I'm still being victimized and my children are suffering."
Supporters have now started an online petition on Change.org asking for executive clemency.
"We're in the process of asking Gov. Cuomo for clemency and let me, you know, come out on parole," she said.
She and supporters say the petition and formal requests for clemency will be delivered to Cuomo in March.
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