Talk about a good day in court. Mary Winkler, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the 2006 shooting death of her Church of Christ minister hubby in 2006, is not only out of jail after 12 days and two months in a mental health facility but she has now been granted custody over her two children.

“She is absolutely overjoyed,” said Rachael Putman, a custody attorney.

Now, call me crazy but most likely not even close to overjoyed, has got to be the slain man’s parents, Dan and Diane Winkler. Caring for the children, ages 11, 9, and 3, the grandparents did allow visitation with their mother (probably because they were forced to by the courts), however, Mary is now going to take over full parental responsibility in her home near McMinnville, about 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

“It should be seen as a sign that the family is healing,” Putnam said of the custody arrangement. “It’s a good thing for everyone.”

When an attorney representing Dan and Diane Winkler were contacted, they did not immediately return the call for comment.

Tried for murder after her husband was found dead by a shotgun blast to the back, she was instead found guilty of voluntary manslaughter after describing the years of abuse she endured.

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