A Manatee County judge sentenced a woman to 20 years in prison after she was found guilty of killing her husband. Ashley Benefield was sentenced to two decades, with credit for time served, followed by 10 years probation in a case that's gained national attention as the "Black Swan murder" trial. The former ballerina was found guilty by a jury in July of manslaughter for shooting and killing her husband, Doug Benefield, in September 2020 after an argument. During the trial, the defense called up some counselors to the witness stand following Ashley Benefield's emotional testimony. The focus in court was on establishing the state of mind of the defendant and Doug Benefield. Court documents and testimonies showed not only was a child custody battle at the center of their conflict, but issues related to the couple's own marital status and domestic abuse were also a factor. Witnesses included a domestic violence expert, the couple's marital counselor, a ballistic expert, a medical examiner and even a realtor. Vincent Vizzacaro said Doug Benefield tried to buy a home in Lakewood Ranch right behind Ashley Benefield. She said she had moved to her mother's house after getting very sick during her pregnancy and suspected Doug Benefield was poisoning her. The realtor pointed out that Doug Benefield had contacted him about purchasing the home in early 2018 despite a restraining order instated by a judge in Charleston, South Carolina, around November 2017. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/manateecounty/black-swan-murder-trial-ashley-benefield-sentenced-in-killing-of-estranged-husband/67-d02f3aa8-0007-4c22-b479-2662ea234847