Pocono News Section

Accused Shooter in Court Friday

Accused Shooter in Court Friday - Friday, January 16, 2009 at 4:01PM EST

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 @ 04:01pm EST

A Wyoming County woman was in federal court Friday. She's accused of shooting her husband while in Canada . It’s the case of Mary Beth Harshbarger of Meshoppen. She says she accidentally shot her husband mark, after mistaking him for "a bear" during a 2006 hunting trip in Canada . Canadian authorities want to extradite her.

Mary Beth Harshbarger is accused of negligence in her husband's death; she says it was an accident. But mark Harshbargers family insists she is a cold blooded killer. Mary Beth Harshbarger came to federal court in Wilkes-Barre Friday. It’s the first hearing in an effort by canadian authorities to have her extradited for trial. Harshbarger and her husband mark were hunting in Newfoundland in September of 2006. She told investigators she thought she was shooting at a black bear. It was around sunset and it was getting dark. The royal Canadian mounted police say she was negligent and careless in the death. They want her to stand trial in Newfoundland . Mark Harshbargers family insists she killed him for his life insurance worth some $500,000 dollars.

The judge scheduled an extradition hearing for February 13 th . At that point he could decide that she should be sent back to Canada , or he could set her free. For now Mary Beth Harshabarger is free on her own recognizance. She cannot leave the middle district of Pennsylvania and she must also turn over her guns to a third party while these court hearings proceed. If she is convicted she could face 2 years to life in prison.