A former ballerina accused of shooting and killing her wealthy Republican donor husband appeared impassive as she was found guilty of manslaughter in a Florida courtroom late Tuesday.
Ashley Benefield, 33, was tried and sentenced to a lesser charge of second-degree murder against her husband, Doug Benefield, in what became known as a “Black Swan murder” trial. Court TV.
A Manatee County jury found that the former ballerina fired the gun that killed her estranged husband at her mother’s Lakewood Ranch home on Sept. 27, 2020, in self-defense, despite prosecutors arguing that she had planned to kill her husband.
As the jury returned its verdict to the emotionless former ballerina, her daughter-in-law, Eva Benefield, could be seen in the gallery with tears streaming down her cheeks.
The former ballerina had stuck to her claim that her husband, a Navy veteran, attacked her the night he was shot after turning up unannounced at her mother’s house.
The couple had been separated at the time of her husband’s death.
During their investigation, investigators found no evidence that she had been physically abused or acted in self-defense and revealed that she fired four rounds from a .45-caliber handgun, shooting her estranged husband twice.
Prosecutors alleged that Benefield killed his ex-partner because he wanted sole custody of his daughter.
After the verdict was handed down, the judge presiding over the case revoked Ashley’s $100,000 bail and remanded her to the custody of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date.
In Florida, manslaughter is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
