Testimony continues in the case against Ashley Benefield, a former ballerina who’s accused of murdering her husband.
Benefield took the stand Monday morning in Manatee County, Florida, and claimed she was “scared to death” of her husband, Doug Benefield, who was found shot dead in 2020. Benefield claimed she was “forced” to shoot, according to testimony, after her husband refused to let her go.
Prosecutors, however, said she made it all up, and claimed Doug was several feet away from Benefield when she pulled the trigger, with his back turned to her. Several bullets struck Doug while another bullet struck the wall.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Benefield was charged with second-degree murder in November 2020, in connection with the shooting. It happened after a heated custody battle on September 17, 2020, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said the pair married in South Carolina, 13 days after meeting in 2016. When the defendant became pregnant, she moved to Florida and sought sole custody of the child, while accusing her husband of abuse.
After multiple hearings, a judge determined Benefield’s claims lacked credibility and granted Douglas visitation rights in the months before his death.
Later, following the shooting, investigators said they found no evidence that she was acting in self-defense and no evidence of physical abuse.
Court documents indicate that Benefield allegedly killed Doug while he was helping her her move to Maryland, where they both planned to live. Prosecutors argued that the defendant never intended to reconcile, moved to Maryland after exhausting all legal avenues in Florida.
Court TV reports that Judge Stephen Whyte denied a motion to dismiss the charges after a two-day “Stand Your Ground” hearing in July 2023. He ruled that the evidence “proves clearly and convincingly that the defendant is not entitled to court-ordered immunity from criminal prosecution, as she was not justified in using deadly force against the victim on September 27, 2020.”
Ashley’s defense plans to present evidence of “battered spouse syndrome.” The defense’s witness list includes expert witnesses and Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell, who is prosecuting the case. O’Donnell previously declined to press charges against Douglas following Ashley’s earlier abuse claims.
Doug and Ashley Benefield were both once active in the ballet scene with the American National Ballet, according to FOX News.
The trial continues.
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[Feature Photo: Doug and Ashley Benefield/Facebook]
