A jury convicted Vanessa Bonaparte for her involvement in the death of Dwayne Boyd in DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz’s courtroom on Aug. 17.
Bonaparte, 24, was initially charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for her involvement in the fatal stabbing of Boyd, 31 that occurred on June 22, 2024 on the 3500 block of East Capitol Street, SE. Boyd sustained two stab wounds to his chest.
In addition, Bonaparte was charged with misdemeanor destruction of property for her alleged damage to a window at the scene.
After some three days of deliberations, the jury found Bonaparte not guilty of first-degree murder, the lesser-included offense of second-degree murder, and destruction of property. The jury, however, convicted Bonaparte of the lesser-included offense of voluntary manslaughter while armed.
In the trial that started on July 28, the prosecution painted Bonaparte as a woman scorned after Boyd reportedly chose another romantic partner over her. They claimed Bonaparte showed up at the apartment where Boyd and his romantic partner resided at the time, and shattered the windows to enter after the couple would not let her in through the door.
As Boyd and his romantic partner attempted to leave, prosecutors alleged Bonaparte stabbed Boyd with two kitchen knives.
Bonaparte’s attorneys, Kevann Gardner and Roderick Thompson, argued their client went to the scene to retrieve her laptop. According to the defense, Bonaparte acted in self-defense after Boyd reportedly assaulted her and held her by the throat.
Both Bonaparte and Boyd’s then-romantic partner testified in the trial.
Bonaparte is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 13.
