A former ballerina was convicted of manslaughter Tuesday night in the shooting death of her husband.
Ashley Benefield faces up to 30 years when she is sentenced, ABC News reported.
Benefield took the stand Monday morning at her trial in Manatee County, Florida, testifying that she was “scared to death” of Doug Benefield and was “forced” to shoot him when he wouldn’t let her leave, as CrimeOnline reported.
Prosecutors argued that she made it all up and killed her husband solely because “she wanted to be a single mother,” prosecutor Suzanne O’Donnell said. Doug Benefield was several feet away with his back turned when she shot him several times on September 17, 2020, argued O’Donnell, who had previously declined to prosecute Doug Benefield on his wife’s abuse claims.
The couple met in South Carolina in 2016 and married after a two-week romance. Ashley Benefield moved to Florida when she became pregnant and sought full custody of their daughter while accusing her husband of abuse. A Florida judge decided her claims lacked credibility and granted Doug Benefield visitation rights.
After the shooting, Florida investigators said they found no evidence of abuse or that she was acting in self defense.
The couple had obtained a mutual no contact order in South Carolina, but Florida authorities would not agree to any such order, NBC News reported.
Benefield was charged with second degree murder in November 2020, but the jury on Tuesday found her guilty on the lesser charge of manslaughter. A sentencing date has not been set.
[Feature Photo: Doug and Ashley Benefield/Facebook]
