BENZIE CO. -- A Benzie County woman has Pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the death of her husband, State Police Sergeant Melvin Holbrook.
Joni Holbrook's murder trial was supposed to begin Wednesday in Benzie County.
Joni Holbrook read a statement to the court Tuesday afternoon that on August 10, 2009, she got out of bed, went into the garage and got her husbands service weapon out of his vehicle, walked back into the bedroom and shot Sgt. Holbrook three times. She said it was dark and did not see where she was pointing the gun on his body. She said she was about three feet away when she fired the three shots.
In the agreement with the Benzie County Prosecutor the sentencing cap was set at a maximum of 15 years in prison, but under that agreement the judge said Tuesday the maximum sentence can actually only be two-thirds of the 15 years, so Holbrook is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
No sentencing date has been set at this time.
