Updated 06/25/2009 06:18 PM
Sentencing Of Fire Marshal's Killer To Be Postponed
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The sentencing of a Staten Island woman convicted of murdering her fire marshal husband was postponed Thursday, following the hospitalization of her lawyer.
Janet Mercereau faces 25 years to life in prison.
The judge says if the attorney fails to show at that time, the sentencing will proceed.
She was found guilty last month in the shooting death of her husband, Douglas, in December 2007.
"This is the icing on the cake. The guilty verdict said it all for us, that's what we were waiting for, that's what we have," said Jim Mercereau, the victim's brother. "And the sentencing, whatever happens happens, but the icing on the cake was about four weeks ago."
Investigators say Mercereau was killed with his own gun as he slept in the family's home. Prosecutors say Mercereau fired three shots into her husband's head, because of years of verbal abuse about her weight.
She has maintained she had nothing to do with his death and did not hear gunshots because she was sleeping with earplugs.
The case will be adjourned until next Thursday. If Mercereau's attorney is not in court at that time, the judge will proceed with the sentencing without him.