A Mount Washington woman was convicted of voluntary manslaughter today in the stabbing death of her live-in boyfriend Feb. 25.

Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John A. Zottola issued the verdict after hearing testimony in the nonjury homicide trial of Patrice A. Rogers, 23. Ms. Rogers stabbed Geno Crenshaw, 30, after the couple had an argument.

Defense attorney J. Richard Narvin of the Office of Conflict Counsel argued for Ms. Rogers' acquittal, saying she plunged the knife into Mr. Crenshaw as an act of self defense. Assistant District Attorney Michael Pradines said Ms. Rogers should be convicted of third-degree murder since she inflicted a wound on a vital organ -- the victim's heart -- and did so with malice.

Judge Zottola said it was apparent after hearing witness accounts that Ms. Rogers and Mr. Crenshaw fought so frequently that none of her family members on the second floor of the home came downstairs when the couple began fighting that day.

The judge did not find that Ms. Rogers killed Mr. Crenshaw with malice. But he also didn't believe that she was forced to stab him to defend herself because she already claimed to have immobilized him by kicking him in a previously injured ankle.

Sentencing was set for Dec. 1.