Black Swan Murder Trial: Former ballerina Ashley Benefield verdict announced in husband's murder

Ashley Benefield, a 32-year-old former ballerina, has been found guilty of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of her estranged husband, Doug Benefield. The verdict was delivered in a Manatee County, Florida courtroom on Tuesday, July 30, after a trial that has captivated the nation.

Benefield was originally charged with second-degree murder, but the jury ultimately convicted her of the lesser crime. The judge remanded her to the custody of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and revoked her $100,000 bond.

The case against Benefield was that she killed her 58-year-old husband in her mother's Lakewood Ranch home in September 2020 because she wanted sole custody of their young daughter and didn't want him in their lives anymore. Prosecutors argued that Benefield was motivated by a desire to be a single mother and was willing to do whatever it took to achieve that goal.

However, Benefield's defense attorney argued that she killed her husband in self-defense, claiming that Doug was a manipulative and abusive man who had been controlling and emotionally abusive towards her.

The trial has been marked by dramatic testimony and revelations about the couple's tumultuous relationship. Prosecutors presented evidence that Benefield had accused Doug of emotional abuse and claimed he had tried to poison her with heavy metals. They also argued that she had been planning to leave him and had even filed a restraining order against him.

The case has drawn widespread attention due to its shocking circumstances and the accused's background as a professional dancer. Benefield's defense team has argued that she killed her husband in self-defense, and the case has raised questions about domestic violence and the complexities of relationships.