Joni Holbrook Sentenced

<p><em><a href="mailto:stephanlj@interlochen.org">By Linda Stephan</a></em></p> <p>Joni Holbrook will serve at least six years in jail, and up to 15 years, for shooting her husband while he was sleeping. Holbrook was sentenced today in Benzie County court.</p> <p>In a compromise deal, Holbrook pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Judge James Batzer said in court that his sentence reflected that deal, which he called, "rational."</p> <p>But Batzer also said he believed Joni Holbrook had other means to leave her husband.<br />"This defendant had many opportunities to walk away, to get away, to stay away," he said.</p> <p>The judge mentioned two marriage separations, and also hospitalizations for her own suicide attempts, when Holbrook could have fled the relationship.</p> <p>The defense had argued that she was severely abused by her husband and victim, Michigan State Police Officer Melvin Paul Holbrook.</p> <p><em>Eric VanDussen contributed to this report.</em></p>