Battered Wife Defense Allowed In Murder Case
BENZIE COUNTY -- A Benzie County judge has rejected a motion in the Holbrook murder case that would have prevented Joni Holbrook from using the Battered Wife Defense.
Holbrook is charged with open murder for the shooting death of her husband, State Police Sergeant Melvin Holbrook.
He was found dead at the couples’s home on August 10th, 2009. Authorities say he was shot three times in the head, chest, and face while he was sleeping. His wife, Joni, confessed to the crimes saying he had mentally, physically, and sexually tormented her for years. She says killing him saved her life. That was a big part of her defense and what the prosecution moved to block.
A judge ruled against that motion. The trial begins July 7th.
