Analee Bernard, STAR Writer

A 40-year-old businesswoman who was charged with the murder of her common-law-husband was granted bail in the sum of $400,000 with two or three sureties when she appeared in court last week.

Althea Stephens of Point district in St. Elizabeth is charged with the murder of Lawrence Brown, 52, of the same district.

Allegations are that on April 16, Stephens and her common-law-husband were at home, at approximately 10:20 p.m., when a . fight developed between them. Brown allegedly used a piece of wood to beat her so she subsequently used a knife that was lying on a table to stab him in the region of his left breast.

He collapsed and was taken to the Black River Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Stephens accompanied by her brother, handed herself over to the Black River Police that same night. She is scheduled to return to court on May 16. Conditions of her bail are that she should report to the Black River Police Station every Tuesday. In addition, she was ordered to surrender her travel documents and a stop order was placed on her at any port of entry.