Ballerina who broke down on witness stand has no reaction whatsoever as jury seals fate in late-night verdict for Navy veteran husband’s shooting death



A former ballerina’s murder trial in Manatee County, Florida, in the 2020 shooting death of her 58-year-old Navy veteran husband Doug Benefield ended late on Tuesday with a guilty verdict for manslaughter with the use of a firearm, but you wouldn’t know that from watching her response to the outcome.

Ashley Benefield, now 32, offered no reaction at all as the verdict was read, after roughly six and a half hours of deliberations.

Ashley Benefield stone-faced as guilty verdict is read on July 30, 2024.

Left: Ashley Benefield stone-faced as guilty verdict is read on July 30, 2024. Right inset: Doug Benefield and Ashley Benefield (Law&Crime).

Moments later, Benefield grabbed a pen and started writing on a note pad before she was taken into custody to await sentencing, which could lead to a punishment of up to 30 years behind bars, prosecutors said.

Ashley Benefield writes on note pad after guilty verdict

Ashley Benefield writes on note pad after guilty verdict (Law&Crime).

There was never any dispute that Ashley Benefield shot and killed Doug Benefield at a Lakewood Ranch home in September 2020, but the defense maintained that the defendant opened fire in self-defense.

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