Texas' highest criminal court has thrown out the 25-year prison sentence a Houston jury gave a woman convicted of murder for stabbing her tied-up husband 193 times.

Susan Wright was convicted in March 2004 of killing her 34-year-old husband, Jeffrey Wright. His body was found buried in the yard behind their Harris County home.

Susan Wright, a former topless dancer, contended she acted in self-defense after years of abuse.

In a ruling Wednesday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals says her lawyers were deficient during the punishment phase of the trial.

An attorney for Wright did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.