PORTLAND — A Portland woman who is accused of fatally stabbing her boyfriend pleaded not guilty to manslaughter Thursday.

Lisa McDonald, 48, is charged in the death of Carlos Ramos, 47, on Nov. 28.

Additional Photos

Lisa McDonald, 48, is arraigned Thursday on a charge of manslaughter in the death of her boyfriend, Carlos Ramos, on Nov. 28. She pleaded not guilty. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

McDonald, who was arrested Wednesday, appeared before Superior Court Justice Roland Cole in orange jail clothes and ankle shackles. During the brief proceeding, she spoke aloud only to indicate that she understood the charge against her and to enter her plea.

Ramos was stabbed at his apartment on Forest Avenue. He died after being taken to Maine Medical Center. An autopsy showed that he died from a single stab wound to the chest. In the days after his death, neighbors described the couple’s relationship as violent.

Verne Paradie, McDonald’s court-appointed attorney, received the case Thursday and said he had been able to speak to his client for only about 10 minutes. Paradie said he will look into the possible roles of self-defense and mental health issues in the case.

“Those are all part and parcel of representing her,” he said.

McDonald was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month. The indictment was sealed until Thursday afternoon.

McDonald was arrested without incident at Portland’s Midtown Community Policing Center on Wednesday afternoon. The arrest report describes McDonald as a transient and indicates she was intoxicated at the time of her arrest.

McDonald is being held on bail of $100,000 property or $50,000 cash. A bail hearing has been scheduled for March 8.

Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at:

akim@pressherald.com

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