Emporia ? A 25-year-old Kansas woman has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge in the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend at the couple’s Emporia home.

DeAnna Meece had been scheduled to go on trial next week on a charge of second-degree murder for the June 17 death of 26-year-old Ricky Nurnberg. But during a pretrial conference Wednesday, Meece pleaded no contest to a charge of voluntary manslaughter.

Meece faces up to five years and 11 months in prison. Sentencing is set for Jan. 29.

Emporia police said the couple had argued for several hours before Nurnberg was stabbed with an eating utensil.