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[Music] morning and now the trial of the former ballerina accused of shooting and
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killing her rest strange husband is set to begin Ashley Benfield is on trial for
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the murder of her husband in the so-called Black Swan murder case after so long since the murder I was really
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excited a little bit anxious about the trial that we were finally going to get some answers okay bring the
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jury when you think of the term Black Swan you think of the movie Black Swan I definitely think it was AP for
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this case because you have somebody who the prosecution is claiming is a fem FAL the former ballerina and bikini
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model married 54-year-old Doug Benfield after a whirlwind 13-day romance on the early evening of
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September 27th 20120 Ashley Benfield was scared to death and felt she had no choice but to defend herself I could see
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how upset he was getting I was trying to get him to leave he is simmering when he
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arrives at Ashley's home he's on a slow boil actually because he knows that this
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relationship is over he started screaming at me he said I don't have to leave I can stay and spend the night if
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I want to cuz I'm your husband Doug Benfield viewed Ashley Benfield as is his property he said you can't fing
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leave me then what happens he hit me in the side of the head I ran where to my room Ashley did
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you have anything in your room that could protect you I had my gun Doug was standing in the
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doorway his face was red like the veins were bulging in his neck Bo he was looking at me he didn't even
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look like dog I held the gun like in front of me and I I said stop he started coming towards me and
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then he lunged at me there was a effort by the defense to paint Ashley as the victim and the thing is Doug is the
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victim in this case Doug was the one that was murdered you say he slapped you he hit me was his hand open or closed I
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don't remember this was an act you grab your firearm is it in a holster uh I don't remember somebody has
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a story and when it's not true and you call them on the details they often say I don't remember so he lunged was his
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fist up when he led I don't remember I believe Ashley Beni was an abused woman she just came over her strength husband
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attacked her and she says she shot him deadly force was absolutely Justified under the
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circumstances whenever the defendant takes a stand in a criminal case it is always a huge risk it's either you are
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acquitted or you walk yourself right into prison I thought he was going to kill me there was nowhere to go I was
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trapped [Music]