WISCASSET (AP) – After nearly 12 hours of deliberations, jurors on Friday acquitted a Waldoboro woman of all charges stemming from the fatal stabbing of her husband last summer at their home.

Jurors had the option of finding Amy Dugas guilty of murder or manslaughter. Instead, she was acquitted of both charges along with an assault charge levied because she bit an officer who was placing her in a police cruiser.

Testifying in her own defense, Dugas told jurors Thursday that what started as an argument over child support payments got out of control.

She said her husband, Mark, was stabbed while they wrestled on the floor on June 4, but she said she didn’t know whose hand was on the knife. Mark Dugas staggered next door to get help and died in the neighbor’s entryway.

Jurors met for four hours Thursday and then nearly eight hours before rendering their verdict Friday in Lincoln County Superior Court.

Dugas has two children, ages 11 and 8, who are now living with an aunt in Tennessee. One of them testified that Amy Dugas retrieved the knife from a silverware cabinet. Dugas testified her husband got the knife from a camper in their yard.

Dugas testified that the couple had been drinking beer while repairing the camper. It was during that time they started arguing about Mark Dugas not making child support payments to his ex-wife, according to her testimony.

Amy and Mark Dugas were married on March 15, 2002. She said they moved around the country because of the child support issue.

In the moments before the scuffle, Amy Dugas said she told her husband that “maybe we should separate and do some soul-searching.” She said he responded by throwing his wedding ring on the floor, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her on a sofa, she said.

“He was on top of me with a knife in his left hand that he got from the camper,” she said. “He was threatening to kill himself, that he couldn’t take it anymore.”

Assistant Attorney General Fern LaRochelle said Thursday that Dugas’ version doesn’t add up. LaRochelle said the victim’s actions made more sense. Removing his wedding ring and throwing it on the floor was integral to what happened, he told the jury.

“Mark wants to end this and she does not. That’s when she goes to the kitchen and gets the knife to make sure it doesn’t happen,” LaRochelle said.

Neighbors said they heard screams and cries after the incident. Amy Dugas said she did not hear her husband when he ran to a neighbor’s house for help.

“I think it’s significant that he goes next door for help. Why would that be, when you have a person in your own house who could call for assistance?” LaRochelle asked.