Investigator for Joni Holbrook approved

Benzie County

More on the Holbrook case

- Holbrook to remain in jail
- Holbrook enters guilty plea
- Holbrook's 911 call statements allowed
- Holbrook's employment records sought
- Investigator for Joni Holbrook approved
- Motion: Holbrook needs private investigator
- Joni Holbrook sent back to jail
- Accused killer's freedom in question
- Judge: Get doctors note or go to jail
- Prosecutor wants Holbrook jailed now
- Holbrook released as she awaits trial
- Testimony: Holbrook may have been awake
- Probe reveals 1987 shooting
- Attorneys say spate of finger-pointing has passed
- Prosecutor accused of withholding
- New details of Holbrook shooting emerge
- Police remove computer from Holbrook home
- Editorial: Gag request rightly denied
- Judge denies gag order
- Prosecutor seeks gag order
- Affidavit details night of shooting
- Editorial: MSP shouldn't be involved
- Poll: Should MSP investigate Holbrook death?
- Lawyer: Joni Holbrook 'victim and survivor'
- State police join Holbrook investigation
- Sgt. Holbrook remembered at funeral
- Suspect's friends troubled by murder charge
- Questions build in trooper's death
- Wife charged in death of policeman
- Police sergeant killed in Benzie

February 27, 2010

FROM STAFF REPORTS The Record Eagle Sat Feb 27, 2010, 12:41 AM EST

BEULAH -- A judge will allow Joni Holbrook's defense attorney to hire a private investigator at public expense.

Benzie Circuit Judge James M. Batzer on Friday granted defense attorney Jesse Williams' motion to hire a private investigator to help interview witnesses.

He also granted Williams' motion to hire a psychiatric expert to determine whether his client suffers from battered spouse syndrome, and hire a computer technician to examine Melvin Holbrook's computer, also at public expense.

Batzer granted the motions contingent upon receiving an affidavit that shows Joni Holbrook is indigent.

Holbrook faces an open count of murder in the Aug. 10 shooting death of her husband, Michigan State Police Sgt. Melvin Holbrook. Authorities believe Joni Holbrook shot her husband with his service weapon as he slept.

Williams previously told Batzer he wanted the investigator and experts to help him defend Holbrook.

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Benzie County

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