Manitoba senator's wife pleads guilty over plane ruckus

The wife of Manitoba Senator Rod Zimmerwas spared jail time but put on probation for a year and must undergo counselling after pleading guilty today to causing a disturbance on a flight to Saskatoon last month.

Maygan Sensenberger, 23,received a suspended sentence during a court appearance Thursday.

Sensenberger was also accused of uttering threats against her 69-year-old husband, but the Crownwithdrew that charge.

Under the terms ofher sentence, she must take any counselling required by her probation officer. The Crown prosecutor said that could include addictions counselling,Alcoholics Anonymousmeetings or anger management classes.

When she was charged, police allegedSensenberger said she would slither husband'sthroat during the flight.

On Thursday, provincial court Judge Marilyn Gray said she believes much of the disturbance caused on the flight would have been avoided had Sensenberger not been drinking.

Sensenberger's lawyer, Leslie Sullivan, said she didn't agree with the way the story was covered by the media.

"It's that you all have focused on my client and her relationship with her husband and not some of the other issues that arose throughout the case," she said. Outside court, Sensenberger was hugged by several people. Her husband was nearby.