The NYPD Police force and the entire community of Westchester County are in shock after a horrific murder-suicide that took the lives of two upstanding community members.
According to reports, former police officer Sean O’Neill committed the violent act on October 16th. He was reportedly at home with his wife, Arlene Connolly O’Neill, and the couple’s three sons, ages 15, 13, and 11.
The couple was allegedly having marital issues for an extended period before the deadly confrontation.
On the night of the incident, Sean reportedly fired multiple shots at his wife. Then, he turned the weapon on himself and fatally shot himself once. Horrifically, all three children were in the home at the time of the incident. While none of the children were physically harmed, they were traumatized by the whole ordeal. Right now, they are being taken care of by their uncle.
Arlene O’Neill will be remembered as a beloved member of the community. She was a teacher for over 25 years in the Eastchester School District. Upon hearing about the news of the teacher’s passing, students were in such distress that the school district dispatched a specific “crisis team” to the school. Students and teachers who are experiencing emotional distress as a result of the situation will meet with counselors to help them work through their feelings.
The district board of education also sent out a letter regarding the incident, calling it an “unimaginable tragedy.” A private mass was also held at the Annunciation Church.
A GoFundMe has been created in Arlene’s memory to help her children. The fundraiser has already generated around $220,000.
What is a Crime of Passion in New York?
Unfortunately, escalating tension can result in a violent incident, especially when conflict remains unsolved for an extended period of time.
In New York, there is a specific type of defense strategy that you can employ if you wind up committing a violent act out of an extreme moment of passion and without your sense of reason. This defense is called a “crime of passion” strategy.
To be considered a crime of passion, the following elements must be met:
- You acted in anger, rage, or in the heat of the moment
- There was no aforethought in planning out the crime
- There was no malice in the crime
In the case of a violent murder, if the incident was committed as a crime of passion, then it is possible to have the charge reduced to manslaughter charge. In general, a suspect must have acted with malice for murder charges to stick.
It’s important to understand that there are always options for you, even if you know you made a mistake. Certain defense strategies can still help you get a better legal outcome, especially if you show your remorse to a judge or the jury.
If you were recently charged with a violent crime in New York, then we can help. Schedule a free consultation call with our office now to learn more about our services.
