Additional Coverage:
A former ballerina, Ashley Benefield, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing her estranged husband. She claimed it was self-defense, but the prosecution argued it was murder.
Benefield’s husband, Doug Benefield, was shot and killed in their home in 2020. Benefield testified that she shot him after he became violent during an argument.
However, the prosecution argued that Benefield’s claims were false and that she killed her husband in a calculated move to gain custody of their child.
The jury acquitted Benefield of murder but found her guilty of manslaughter. She was also sentenced to 10 years of probation after her prison term.
Benefield’s attorneys have requested a new trial, alleging juror misconduct. They claim one juror failed to disclose a history of abuse allegations, and another may have had a cellphone in the jury room.
Prosecutors have denied these allegations, stating there is no evidence that the jury’s decision was compromised.