LEWISTON – A woman charged with stabbing her husband in an early-morning attack on Walnut Street was released from jail Friday night.

Police said 29-year-old Jessica Palmer stabbed her husband Alfred in the chest Friday morning as the two fought in their 32 Walnut St. apartment.

Alfred Palmer, 54, was critically injured. Police described the wound as life-threatening; they were monitoring his condition late Friday night.

Police said Jessica told investigators her husband came home drunk and tried to kick in the door, so she stabbed him in self–defense.

The couple had a history of domestic trouble, police said, but mostly verbal arguments that did not escalate into physical violence.

The Department of Health and Human Services was contacted about the stabbing because the couple has a young child who sometimes lives in their home. It was not clear whether the child was home early Friday when Alfred Palmer was stabbed.

Maine State Police detectives were working with Lewiston police in case the stabbing turned into a homicide – Jessica Palmer was charged in the attack with aggravated assault. Should her husband die from his wound, the charge could be upgraded to murder.

At Central Maine Medical Center, a spokeswoman said she could not release information about Alfred Palmer’s condition at the request of the patient or his family.

Late Friday night, police believed Palmer was still alive.

Meanwhile, Jessica Palmer was held on $5,000 bail at the Androscoggin County until shortly after 5 p.m., when she was freed after posting bail.

Police went to the apartment, near the corner of Blake Street, at about 2:30 a.m. when neighbors reported a fight in the Palmer’s apartment.

Investigators did not say what led to the confrontation.

Police in Lewiston are familiar with the Palmers. Alfred Palmer has lived in the area for at least 15 years, they said. In February, he was ordered to serve 15 days in jail after he was convicted of a 2005 charge of drug trafficking.

Other than a minor driving infraction, Jessica Palmer had no previous charges, according to local police records.

Police said they were called to the Palmer residence a handful of times in the past few years for reports of loud arguments. The most recent incident was reported in late January and was described as a verbal dispute.