A former ballerina at the centre of the highly publicised “Black Swan murders” has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Ashley Benefield, 33, was convicted Tuesday night by a jury in Manatee County, Florida.
The manslaughter conviction was a reduction from a second-degree murder charge originally brought against Benefield following her husband’s 2020 death.
Former Florida ballerina claims ‘self-defense’ defense to clear murder charge in husband’s death
Ashley Benefield, 31, was convicted of manslaughter for shooting and killing her husband, Doug Benefield, at their Florida home in 2020. Benefield claimed her husband had punched her during a domestic dispute. (Facebook)
Benefield claims he acted in self-defense when he shot Doug Benefield, whose lawyers filed a lawsuit last year alleging that he shot him after Doug refused to leave his home and punched him in the face.
The allegations were brought in Florida “Right of Self-Defense” LawThe law says you don’t have to retreat before using deadly force to prevent death, serious injury and certain felonies.
Ashley and Doug lived in Charleston, South Carolina, until Ashley became pregnant and moved to Florida to live with her mother, and after the baby was born, Doug joined her in the Sunshine State, but they did not live together.
Former Florida ballet dancer charged with killing husband during custody battle: police
According to the lawsuit, she repeatedly alleged emotional abuse by Doug in an attempt to gain sole custody of her daughter, but the allegations were never substantiated.
During Thursday’s hearing, Stephanie Murphy, an attorney for Doug’s family, testified about the couple’s custody battle and Ashley’s claims that her husband poisoned her with heavy metals while she was pregnant, then fired a gun in their home and hit the family dog in the face.
Former ballet dancer Ashley Benefield (31, left) was initially charged with second-degree murder after the fatal altercation. The trial was dubbed the “Black Swan Murder” by lawyers for Doug’s family, a nickname that became widespread as the trial received widespread publicity. (Facebook)
“To Doug…Ashley is an innocent, pure swan,” Murphy previously said. “48 Hours” on CBS.
“But beneath those white feathers… she’s an evil woman,” Murphy added. “She’s a Black Swan.”
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Eva Benefield, Doug’s daughter from a previous marriage and Ashley’s stepdaughter, celebrated the verdict on social media.
“She was convicted of manslaughter” Eva Benefield He said in a TikTok video after the verdict.“After four years of waiting, my father got the justice he deserved.”
A date for sentencing has not yet been set.
Fox News Digital’s Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this report.
