BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Jury selection to begin in trial of Florida mom claiming self-defense in husband’s death

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — Jury selection begins on Monday in the murder trial of Lakewood Ranch mother Ashley Benefield, who is accused of killing her estranged husband nearly four years ago, claiming it was self-defense.

Authorities were called to a Lakewood Ranch subdivision called Central Park after a 911 caller said his neighbor, Ashley Benefield, ran to his house, claiming she shot her husband Doug after he attacked her.

Five weeks of investigating later, Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputies charged then-28-year-old Benefield with the second-degree murder of her 59-year-old husband. A sheriff’s office report found bullet entry wounds on Doug indicating he was shot while facing away from his wife, and they found no evidence of self-defense.

The couple was separated at the time of the shooting.

Investigators learned that in the time since Benefield had been pregnant, she made several allegations against her husband, though none of physical violence. Officials said the couple was in the middle of a custody battle over their daughter at the time of the shooting.

In a hearing before the shooting, a judge granted Doug access to the child and said Benefield was lying about her allegations. A law enforcement report stated, “It appears that Ashley had exhausted all legal means of keeping the child away from Douglas before the shooting.”

Last year, Benefield claimed the shooting was a Stand Your Ground case, but the courts ruled that out. Her attorney declined to comment on the case.

The judge told Benefield — who is out on bond right now — that if she is found guilty, she’s facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.

Southeast

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Partly Cloudy

la

61°F Partly Cloudy Feels like 61°
Wind
5 mph SW
Humidity
56%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
49°F Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
4 mph N
Precip
1%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent