Woman who killed boyfriend during domestic dispute gets over 7 years

A woman who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting her boyfriend during a domestic dispute in 2020 has been sentenced to over seven years (86 months).

Stephanie Louise Clark, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter in October, claiming self-defense. One count of second-degree murder was dismissed at sentencing.

Clark was initially convicted of second-degree murder in 2021 and was sentenced to over 25 years in prison. But she was awarded a new trial in 2023 after the Minnesota Court of Appeals determined jurors weren’t given proper instructions by the court. Clark then pleaded guilty before the second jury trial.

RELATED: Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter for fatally shooting boyfriend | Appeals court reverses Maple Grove woman’s murder conviction

As previously reported, she claimed self-defense, saying that 30-year-old Donjuan Butler was abusive toward her. While they were arguing, Clark said Butler punched her, held a gun to her head and threatened to kill her. Clark then shot Butler several times, killing him.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, several resources are available to offer help. For immediate help, contact:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

Minnesota Day One at 866-223-1111.

The Women’s Advocates crisis line at 651-227-8284.

More than 12 million people just in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence every year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

The organizations listed above can help connect victims to resources like safe shelter, advocacy, legal help and support groups.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips for identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see those.

Other organizations that can help include:

Violence Free Minnesota at 651-646-6177 or 800-289-6177.

STANDPOINT(formerly the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project) at 612-343-9842.

Mending the Sacred Hoop at 888-305-1650.

Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 612-209-9993.

Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for victims of crimes that can be found HERE.

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