'Black Swan' Trial: Ex-Ballerina Found Guilty of Killing Her Husband in Florida

A woman from Florida has been convicted on the charges of manslaughter in the death of her husband, authorities shared.

Ashley Benefield, a 32-year-old former ballerina has been found guilty of manslaughter in connection to her husband's death, People reported. The verdict was announced on July 30, in a Manatee County courtroom. Sentencing will take place at a later date. 

Doug Benefield died of a fatal gunshot wound at a Lakewood Ranch home owned by Ashley Benefield's mother in 2020, The New York Post reported. The accused's attorneys argued that she shot her partner in self-defense. 

Ashley Benfield has been claiming since the beginning of the case that the victim tried to attack her and to protect herself she unloaded the gun at him, The New York Post reported.

The couple met at a political event in August 2016, when Ashley Benefield, was working as a trained dancer and Doug Benefield, was employed in the private sector, New York Post reported. After knowing each other for 13 days, they tied the knot. 

"They were just with each other all the time. It was very lovey-dovey. They were very touchy-feely PDAs. Any event with school or extracurricular that I was in, they were together," Eva Benefield, the victim's daughter, said during the trial, The New York Post reported. "They never left each other’s side."

Just a year into the marriage, the couple started a ballet company, The New York Post reported. The business venture did not return the expected profits, Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell shared in her opening statement. Ashley Benefield, while dealing with the failed business venture, also found that she was pregnant with the couple's first child.

"All within a year of being married, they have done a vasectomy reversal, gotten pregnant, started a ballet and the ballet has crumbled," O’Donnell said, The New York Post reported. The relationship started having conflicts during the pregnancy, causing the accused to move from South Carolina to Florida to live with her mother.

Soon after changing places, Ashley Benefield began making complaints to local law enforcement about being a victim of non-physical domestic violence, The New York Post reported. Things got worse between the couple when Ashley Benfield gave birth to their daughter, Emerson, and reportedly did not inform Doug Benefield.

A bitter custody battle for Emerson ensued between the couple, The New York Post reported. In 2018, Doug Benefield was granted visitation rights to his daughter.

Ashley Benefield's defense alleged that the victim was manipulative, controlling, and abusive as a husband, The New York Post reported. The woman fired the shots to protect herself and her child from Doug Benefield's wrath. They listed several incidents that allegedly happened during the marriage, which justified Ashley Benefield's fears. 

Doug Benefield apparently once fired a gun into the ceiling, to stop Ashley Benfield from talking, The New York Post reported. Another time, he allegedly punched the couple's dog unconscious in a fit of rage. 

Ashley Benefield claimed that on the day of the murder, Doug Benefield was angry, as he knew the relationship was ending, The New York Post reported. He allegedly shoved and threatened her, making her run to the bedroom to fetch a gun for safety. He followed her to the room and she shot him. "I thought he was going to kill me," she testified during the trial.

Police were called to the scene by Ashley Benefield, People reported. She told the authorities that the attack was done in self-defense. 

Officials found no evidence at the crime scene to support Ashley Benefield's statement, The New York Post reported. She was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. 

The case became popular as the "Black Swan Murder Trial" based on the 2010 psychological horror film Black Swan, where the lead actor, Natalie Portman played a ballerina role.

A Manatee County jury found her guilty of manslaughter, The New York Post reported. Manslaughter carries a 15-year maximum prison sentence in Florida.