Woman Sentenced To 28-55 Years For Killing Ex-Boyfriend Vows To Appeal Ruling
PORT HURON (WWJ/AP) - A 44-year-old Port Huron woman who was convicted of killing her former boyfriend has been sentenced to 28 to 55 years in prison.
Judy Higley-Zuehlke on Thursday maintained her innocence before learning her punishment in the death of 50-year-old John Robert Allen.
"The assumption that I could hurt anyone, especially J.R., is ridiculous," she told the court. "Please do not take my life away for this — in which I did not do."
An appeal is planned.
Higley-Zuehlke earlier was convicted of second-degree murder, lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigation, concealing the death of an individual and tampering with evidence.
Allen's body was found at his Port Huron home Feb. 3. A medical examiner said the cause of death was strangulation with contributory factors of a puncture wound to the ear and blunt force trauma injuries to the head.
At Higley-Zuehlke's sentencing, Assistant Prosecutor Amy Stover said Allen had 35 additional injuries besides the three that caused his death, The Times Herald reported.
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