Medford Woman Indicted for Husband’s Murder

Shawntina Burston is pictured during her arraignment in January. Pool Photo By Jarret Bencks – Medford.Patch.com

– Allison Goldsberry

A Medford woman has been indicted in connection with the stabbing death of her husband in January.

Shawntina Burston, 39, was indicted by a Middlesex County Grand Jury on the charge of first degree murder on Wednesday, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

Burston is accused of stabbing to death her husband Troy, 34, in their Exchange Avenue home on January 30. Police found him around 10:30PM that night lying outside in a snow bank. He was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Burston was taken into custody at the scene. Authorities say Burston and her husband began arguing earlier in the night and the fighting escalated to the point where she is alleged to have stabbed him.

During her arraignment last month in Somerville District Court Burston pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to Boston.com.

Earl Howard, Burston’s attorney, told Boston.com his client has no prior convictions but acknowledged she has been charged in the past with a handful of misdemeanors, including a 1996 disturbing the peace charge that was ultimately dismissed.

District Attorney Leone characterized the event as a domestic incident that turned deadly.

“This is another troubling incident of domestic violence turned fatal,” DA Leone said in a statement. “We allege that the victim was fatally stabbed by his wife during an argument, sadly leaving two young children behind.”