BOSTON, Dec. 13, 2018—The woman who stabbed 34-year-old Sasha Morris to death during an argument two years ago was convicted of voluntary manslaughter today, Suffolk County District Attorney John P. Pappas said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury returned the verdict convicted ELBA MORALES early on its first full day of deliberations following about a week of testimony. Morales, 49 and a resident of Dorchester, stabbed Morris to death in a friend’s Fayston Street home during an argument. She faces sentencing next week.

“But for the defendant’s choice to pick up a knife during an argument, Sasha Morris would be with her family right now,” Pappas said. “Our thoughts today are with them and the loved ones who still miss her.”

Assistant District Attorney Craig Iannini introduced evidence and testimony to show that both women were at Morris’ boyfriend’s residence on the night of Dec. 19 into the morning of Dec. 20, 2016, when they became involved in a verbal altercation. That verbal altercation escalated to a physical confrontation, the evidence showed. Prosecution testimony suggested that a witness intervened in the fight and separated the two women, at which point Morales retrieved a kitchen knife and stabbed Morris twice in the torso, causing fatal injuries.

Morales fled the building but was apprehended outside by Boston Police officers responding to a 911 call. She was placed under arrest at the scene and, two months later, indicted for second-degree murder by the Suffolk County Grand Jury.

Erin O’Connor was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Morales was represented by attorney Brian Kelly. She faces sentencing on Dec. 19 before Judge Elizabeth Fahey.