[MI] Wife of murdered State Police Sgt. Melvin Holbrook is returned to jail until trial

...[Joni] Holbrook, 48, is charged with an open count of murder in the Aug. 10 shooting death of her husband, Michigan State Police Sgt. Melvin P. Holbrook. She had been free on bond since October, but headed back to jail Tuesday after a brief hearing before Benzie Circuit Judge James M. Batzer...

Holbrook to await trial in jail
Traverse City Record – Eagle
January 12, 2009 1:40 pm
[Excerpt]  BEULAH - Accused murderer Joni Holbrook is headed back to jail. Holbrook, 48, is charged with an open count of murder in the Aug. 10 shooting death of her husband, Michigan State Police Sgt. Melvin P. Holbrook. She spent about two months in jail, but was released on bond in October when her attorneys said she had a serious heart condition. Benzie Circuit Judge James M. Batzer in a hearing held this morning ordered her back to jail as she awaits trial. Batzer previously ordered Holbrook's attorneys to provide a note from physicians detailing why she couldn't be jailed. Holbrook attorney Jesse L. Williams said in today's hearing that Holbrook's heart conditions had been misdiagnosed...

Joni Holbrook sent back to jail
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD- EAGLE
BY ART BUKOWSKI
JANUARY 13, 2009
[Excerpts] Joni Holbrook's family wept and embraced as a bailiff prepared to lead her from a Benzie County courtroom to a jail cell. Holbrook, 48, is charged with an open count of murder in the Aug. 10 shooting death of her husband, Michigan State Police Sgt. Melvin P. Holbrook. She had been free on bond since October, but headed back to jail Tuesday after a brief hearing before Benzie Circuit Judge James M. Batzer... [Joni Holbrook's attorney Jesse] Williams said Holbrook suffers from stress and is "on the verge of suicide," though Batzer said jail isn't an easy place to be. "This court is of the opinion that being in jail is stressful to almost everyone who's there," he said.... Authorities believe Holbrook shot her husband with his service weapon as he slept. She didn't give investigators a motive, though her attorneys allege Melvin Holbrook abused her. Melvin Holbrook, 53, was a 23-year state police veteran who served as a desk sergeant at the Traverse City post at the time of his death. He previously served at posts in Manistee, Coldwater and elsewhere. Holbrook's trial is scheduled for April.

Previous posts:

• [MI] Joni Holbrook charged with murdering husband, State Patrol Sgt. Melvin Holbrook- ...Deputies say when they arrived they found that Sergeant Holbrook had been shot dead in his bed. His wife again admitted to shooting her husband...
• [MI] Neighbors didn't call the police when State Police Sgt. Melvin Paul Holbrook's wife Joni was abused. - ...Barbara Johnson who lived for about three years on Derby Road near the Holbrooks, said Joni Holbrook appeared at Johnson's home last fall and said her husband had just beaten her. "I asked, 'Why don't you call the cops?'" Baker said. "(Joni) said 'He is the police.'"...
• [MI] Attorney says Joni's diminished to the shell of a person. Sheriff will interview neighbors who say they were aware of abuse at the Holbrook's. - "...Her history of mental, physical and sexual abuse from her husband has diminished her to an absolute shell of a person"... The department will interview neighbors who alleged Melvin Holbrook was physically abusive toward his wife...
• [MI] Judge rules murder-charged Joni Holbrook's defense team won't be gagged. (Does she need hospital testing?) - ...Joni Holbrook continues to be held at the Benzie County Jail without bond. Williams asked that a bond be set because Holbrook is suffering from strokes and needs medical attention...
• [MI] 1st wife shot at Trooper Sgt. Melvin Holbrook before later wife shot and killed him - ...Retired troopers told of a July 23, 1987, incident in which [1st wife] Starr Ann Holbrook shot at him with a state police-issued gun as he arrived home from work... [2nd wife] Joni Holbrook's attorney Jesse Williams says this is not a coincidence...

[police officer involved domestic violence law enforcement fatality fatalities murder prisoner rights michigan state inmate rape]