Medford Woman Charged with 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 arraigned following her indictment in connection with the stabbing death of her husband in January.

Shawntina Burston, 39, of Medford , was arraigned Monday in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on the charge of first degree murder. Middlesex Superior Court Judge S. Jane Haggerty ordered the defendant held without bail, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

Her next court date is May 25 for a pretrial conference. According to Boston.com, Burston pleaded not guilty to the charge against her.

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.

Earl Howard, Burston’s attorney, told Boston.com in January 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.”