Medford Woman Pleads Guilty to Husband’s Murder

Shawntina Burston is pictured during her arraignment in 2011. Pool Photo By Jarret Bencks.

– Allison Goldsberry

A Medford woman has pleaded guilty for the stabbing death of her husband, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

Shawntina Burston, 40, pleaded guilty Monday in Middlesex Superior Court to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. Judge Peter Lauriat sentenced Burston to 10 to 12 years in state prison.

“This is tragic case of domestic violence turned fatal, where the victim was stabbed to death by his wife following an argument,” District Attorney Leone said. “With today’s plea, the defendant admitted responsibility for her actions that caused the death of the victim. Our thoughts remain with the victim as well as the couple’s two young children.”

Burston stabbed her husband Troy, 34, in their Exchange Avenue home on January 30, 2011. 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 stabbed him to death.

Burston was initially arraigned on charges of first degree murder before pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.