Self-Defense

In some cases of assault and murder, the defendant claims they had no choice but to act to protect themselves or others.

Prosecutor points to defendant in court
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Christine Ricci sits in court during closing arguments.
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Ashley Benefield found guilty of manslaughter.
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Ashley Benefield sits in court room.
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Black and white photo of Ashley Benefield
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Ashley Benefield takes the stand in her defense.
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Woman sobbing on one side with an attorney with glasses looking down on the other side
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Texts between Ashley and Doug Benefield shown in court.
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Detective Chris Gillum, a domestic violence investigator, takes the stand.
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Judge Matt Whyte admonishes defense attorney Neil Taylor.
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Sheriff, defendant combo image
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woman testifies
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Doug Benefield's daughter, Eva Benefield, takes the stand on day one of the Black Swan Murder Trial. Ashley Benefield is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, Douglas Benefield.
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John Sant takes the stand in the Black Swan Murder Trial. Sant, Ashley Benefield's neighbor at the time of the shooting, takes the stand as the jury listens to the 911 call he made on Ashley's behalf.
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woman escorted from court
The jury is selected in the Black Swan Murder Trial. Ashley Benefield is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, Doug Benefield. Ashley claims she shot her husband in self-defense.
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attorney speaks to judge
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Jury selection is slated to begin in late July in the Black Swan Murder Trial where Ashley Benefield is accused in the shooting death of her husband, Doug. Benefield claims self-defense, while prosecutors say it was about a custody dispute.
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Doug Benefield's former attorney, Stephanie Murphy, joins Court TV to discuss the status of the family court case that occurred before Ashley Benefield killed her husband, Doug.
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woman testifies
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Court TV speaks with Doug Benefield's cousin, Tommie Benefield. Tommie speaks about the circumstances in which Doug and Ashley were purportedly reconciling and on the verge of withdrawing the divorce petition and move to Maryland together up until he was killed.
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Marcia Thompson takes the stand in the Abused Wife or Murderer Trial. Thompson, a U.S. Customs officer is facing trial for the shooting death of her husband, Terry Thompson.
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Ashley Benefield appears at a pre-trial hearing as supporters gather ahead of the Black Swan Murder Trial. Jury selection begins on July 22, as Benefield faces trial on charges she murdered her husband, Douglas.
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Marcia Thompson
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Court TV takes a look at the 'We Stand With Ashley' movement as the Black Swan Murder Trial approaches. Ashley Benefield, 32, is charged with second-degree murder for the death of her husband, Douglas Benefield, 58 in Sept. 2020.
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Former ballerina, Ashley Benefield, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her husband, Douglas Benefield. The Black Swan Murder Trial is scheduled to start in late July.
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George Alan Kelly
George Alan Kelly sits in court
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Blonde-haired middle-aged female judge sits at the bench.
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Pamela Bordeaux stands before the verdict is read in court
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