Florida Ballerina Accused Of Murdering Her Husband To Be A Single Mother, Jury Deliberates
A ballet dancer is on trial for her husband's murder in what is being coined the "Black Swan Murder Trial."
Ashley Benefield confessed to the murder of her husband in September 2020.
The trial began at the beginning of this week and it's specifically calling into question Benefield's claims she acted in self-defense.
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According to 'Love B Scott,' the 32-year-old's defense team originally argued that Douglas Benefield attempted to attack her. Her representation claimed that the ballet dancer "was in fear for her life when she was forced to shoot him."
However, as the scene was combed over, aspects of the ballerina's story did not line up. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office revealed that "Based on entry wounds on Douglas it does not appear that he was facing Ashley when she began shooting. It also does not appear that Douglas had taken any kind of defensive or combative stance. He was not found to have any weapons on this person or near him." Detectives found no evidence that she was acting in self-defense when she fired multiple shots at her husband.
The Assistant State Attorney claims "This case is about a woman who very early on in her pregnancy decided she wanted to be a single mother. She would stop at nothing to obtain that goal."
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According to 'PEOPLE,' the team shared "The only thing that is going to have been established here beyond a reasonable doubt is that Douglas Benefield was a violent abuser, Ashley Benefield's efforts to placate him was absolutely consistent with what abused women do, especially when a child is involved, and that Ashley's result and resource to deadly force was justified under the circumstances."
Ashley Benefield, who married Douglas after 13 days of meeting, is charged with second-degree murder.
"This was a custody battle that this mother was going to win at all costs," Suzanne O'Donnell, assistant state attorney for Florida's 12th Judicial District, said, per 'NBC News.' "The cost was the life of Doug Benefield, and that is murder."
