Donna Turner

Courtesy of the WCSO

The 46-year-old Ypsilanti woman accused of fatally stabbing her boyfriend after an argument earlier this month had her preliminary examination adjourned in the 14A-1 District Court Tuesday.

"Our investigation revealed we have a conflict of interest with a key witness in this case," said Donna Turner's attorney, Assistant Washtenaw County Public Defender Christopher Renna.

Renna said the public defenders office has represented a male witness in the past and asked to withdraw from the case. Judge Christopher Easthope granted the request and appointed the Julington Litigation Center to represent Turner.

The preliminary examination was rescheduled for Dec. 27.

Turner is accused of stabbing 45-year-old Keith Walton to death as he was trying to leave their apartment in Ypsilanti after an argument Dec. 4. The two had been arguing in the living room of their apartment on South Huron Street when Turner walked into the kitchen, officials said. Walton got his coat and walked past Turner just before she suddenly stabbed him once in the abdomen with a large kitchen knife, severing his femoral artery, police said.

Walton died a short time later after an ambulance took him to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

Turner, who briefly appeared in court Tuesday, has been charged with one count of open murder. She continues to be held at the Washtenaw County Jail without bond.

John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.