Ashley Benefield has been found guilty of manslaughter in the highly publicized "Black Swan murder trial," following the shooting death of her estranged husband, Doug Benefield, on September 27, 2020. Initially charged with second-degree murder, the jury reached a verdict after deliberating for only a few hours on July 30, 2024.
Case Background
The trial centered around Benefield's assertion that she acted in self-defense during a confrontation with her husband at their home in Florida. She claimed that Doug had a history of abusive behavior, which included incidents of intimidation and physical violence, and that she shot him out of fear for her safety. The couple's tumultuous relationship...