***VICTIM IMPACTS & SENTENCING*** Ashley Benefield "Ballerina" Murder

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In 2016, Doug Benefield met Ashley at a Republican fundraiser in Palm Beach. At the time, Ashley, a 24-year-old model and ballerina, quickly married Doug, a 54-year-old Navy veteran and technology consultant who had recently lost his first wife. Together, they founded the American National Ballet in Charleston, South Carolina, which folded shortly after its launch. Their relationship soured amidst a ferocious custody battle over their child, with Ashley making allegations of domestic violence, which were ultimately dismissed by the court. It's alleged that Ashley did everything she could to keep Doug away from their young daughter. On September 27, 2020, a tragic incident occurred in Manatee County, where Ashley shot and killed Doug in their home. On September 27, 2020, dispatchers in Manatee County received a 911 call around 6 p.m. from a man who said his neighbor had just run over to his home, yelling for "help," claiming her husband had just attacked her, so she shot him. She claimed self-defense, alleging Doug had become physically aggressive during an argument. Evidence from the scene, including multiple gunshot wounds and the positioning of Doug's body, suggested a violent altercation had taken place. According to court documents, “based on the entry wounds on Douglas, it does not appear that he was facing Ashley when she began shooting.” "It also does not appear that Douglas had taken any kind of defensive or combative stance.”
Ashley was subsequently charged with second-degree murder with a firearm and posted a $100,000 bond. She currently lives under a court-issued curfew and wears an ankle monitor. Her defense team has filed a motion for dismissal, arguing that Ashley acted in self-defense due to escalating threats and aggression from Doug during the incident. The case has attracted public attention due to its complex legal and emotional aspects, including the impact on their young daughter and Doug's older child from a previous marriage, Eva, who has spoken publicly about the trauma surrounding her parents' deaths. A pretrial immunity hearing on the motion for dismissal was scheduled for July 6-7, with implications for the future direction of the case. A pretrial hearing was held on July 17th 2024.
Murder OR Self Defense???