The UK Column is an independent news organisation analysing the information war.
…
continue reading
Contenuto fornito da Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News and Hidden Killers Podcast. Tutti i contenuti dei podcast, inclusi episodi, grafica e descrizioni dei podcast, vengono caricati e forniti direttamente da Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News and Hidden Killers Podcast o dal partner della piattaforma podcast. Se ritieni che qualcuno stia utilizzando la tua opera protetta da copyright senza la tua autorizzazione, puoi seguire la procedura descritta qui https://it.player.fm/legal.
Player FM - App Podcast
Vai offline con l'app Player FM !
Vai offline con l'app Player FM !
Defense Witnesses Testify in Ashley Benefield Murder Trial
Manage episode 431611778 series 3386274
Contenuto fornito da Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News and Hidden Killers Podcast. Tutti i contenuti dei podcast, inclusi episodi, grafica e descrizioni dei podcast, vengono caricati e forniti direttamente da Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News and Hidden Killers Podcast o dal partner della piattaforma podcast. Se ritieni che qualcuno stia utilizzando la tua opera protetta da copyright senza la tua autorizzazione, puoi seguire la procedura descritta qui https://it.player.fm/legal.
Defense witnesses took the stand Monday in the trial of Ashley Benefield, a 32-year-old former professional ballerina accused of murdering her husband, Doug, in 2020. Benefield’s defense, led by attorney Neil Taylor, aims to portray her as a frightened wife who acted in self-defense against an abusive husband.
Benefield herself testified last Friday, admitting to killing Doug but claiming it was in self-defense after he allegedly became physically abusive. On Monday, Taylor called several witnesses to support this defense.
The first to testify was Bruce Ferris, a mental health professional specializing in domestic and family issues. Taylor asked Ferris to determine whether Ashley's alleged behaviors fit the definition of a domestic abuse victim. Ferris affirmed that they did, citing actions such as “acting deferential and subservient during joint therapy sessions, but decisively different in individual sessions... being exposed to threats, intimidation, holding down, humiliating, cursing.”
“These are again techniques of compliance, not wanting to poke the bear,” Ferris explained. “They don't want anyone to know, and they don't want their abuser to be angry by disclosing.”
Next on the stand was Vincent Vizzaccaro, a Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch-based realtor. Doug had previously contacted Vizzaccaro about purchasing a home in Lakewood Ranch, near where Ashley lived. Judge Matt Whyte initially ruled Vizzaccaro's evidence, emails between him and Doug, as hearsay and temporarily dismissed him. However, after deliberation, Whyte overturned this decision, allowing Vizzaccaro to testify.
Vizzaccaro revealed that Doug wanted to buy a house directly behind Ashley’s while they were separated, suggesting a potential motive for control.
Dr. Jason Quintal, a counselor who worked with both Doug and Ashley, followed Vizzaccaro. Quintal shared his professional conclusions about Doug, stating that Ashley expressed fear towards him and that Doug maintained an “alpha-male” persona.
“Doug occurred as somebody who was domineering... super-controlling,” Quintal testified.
The testimony later shifted focus to the shooting incident itself. Michael Haag, a forensic shooting reconstruction expert, discussed the bullet trajectories. According to Haag, two bullets struck Doug from different angles, and other objects in the room were also hit by bullets, indicating that Ashley moved during the shooting.
“There’s not a physical possibility for the firearm to have been stationary between just those two shots,” Haag said.
Closing arguments from both sides are scheduled for Tuesday. Ashley Benefield faces charges of second-degree murder and could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Benefield herself testified last Friday, admitting to killing Doug but claiming it was in self-defense after he allegedly became physically abusive. On Monday, Taylor called several witnesses to support this defense.
The first to testify was Bruce Ferris, a mental health professional specializing in domestic and family issues. Taylor asked Ferris to determine whether Ashley's alleged behaviors fit the definition of a domestic abuse victim. Ferris affirmed that they did, citing actions such as “acting deferential and subservient during joint therapy sessions, but decisively different in individual sessions... being exposed to threats, intimidation, holding down, humiliating, cursing.”
“These are again techniques of compliance, not wanting to poke the bear,” Ferris explained. “They don't want anyone to know, and they don't want their abuser to be angry by disclosing.”
Next on the stand was Vincent Vizzaccaro, a Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch-based realtor. Doug had previously contacted Vizzaccaro about purchasing a home in Lakewood Ranch, near where Ashley lived. Judge Matt Whyte initially ruled Vizzaccaro's evidence, emails between him and Doug, as hearsay and temporarily dismissed him. However, after deliberation, Whyte overturned this decision, allowing Vizzaccaro to testify.
Vizzaccaro revealed that Doug wanted to buy a house directly behind Ashley’s while they were separated, suggesting a potential motive for control.
Dr. Jason Quintal, a counselor who worked with both Doug and Ashley, followed Vizzaccaro. Quintal shared his professional conclusions about Doug, stating that Ashley expressed fear towards him and that Doug maintained an “alpha-male” persona.
“Doug occurred as somebody who was domineering... super-controlling,” Quintal testified.
The testimony later shifted focus to the shooting incident itself. Michael Haag, a forensic shooting reconstruction expert, discussed the bullet trajectories. According to Haag, two bullets struck Doug from different angles, and other objects in the room were also hit by bullets, indicating that Ashley moved during the shooting.
“There’s not a physical possibility for the firearm to have been stationary between just those two shots,” Haag said.
Closing arguments from both sides are scheduled for Tuesday. Ashley Benefield faces charges of second-degree murder and could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
945 episodi
Manage episode 431611778 series 3386274
Contenuto fornito da Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News and Hidden Killers Podcast. Tutti i contenuti dei podcast, inclusi episodi, grafica e descrizioni dei podcast, vengono caricati e forniti direttamente da Murder In The Morning | Daily True Crime News and Hidden Killers Podcast o dal partner della piattaforma podcast. Se ritieni che qualcuno stia utilizzando la tua opera protetta da copyright senza la tua autorizzazione, puoi seguire la procedura descritta qui https://it.player.fm/legal.
Defense witnesses took the stand Monday in the trial of Ashley Benefield, a 32-year-old former professional ballerina accused of murdering her husband, Doug, in 2020. Benefield’s defense, led by attorney Neil Taylor, aims to portray her as a frightened wife who acted in self-defense against an abusive husband.
Benefield herself testified last Friday, admitting to killing Doug but claiming it was in self-defense after he allegedly became physically abusive. On Monday, Taylor called several witnesses to support this defense.
The first to testify was Bruce Ferris, a mental health professional specializing in domestic and family issues. Taylor asked Ferris to determine whether Ashley's alleged behaviors fit the definition of a domestic abuse victim. Ferris affirmed that they did, citing actions such as “acting deferential and subservient during joint therapy sessions, but decisively different in individual sessions... being exposed to threats, intimidation, holding down, humiliating, cursing.”
“These are again techniques of compliance, not wanting to poke the bear,” Ferris explained. “They don't want anyone to know, and they don't want their abuser to be angry by disclosing.”
Next on the stand was Vincent Vizzaccaro, a Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch-based realtor. Doug had previously contacted Vizzaccaro about purchasing a home in Lakewood Ranch, near where Ashley lived. Judge Matt Whyte initially ruled Vizzaccaro's evidence, emails between him and Doug, as hearsay and temporarily dismissed him. However, after deliberation, Whyte overturned this decision, allowing Vizzaccaro to testify.
Vizzaccaro revealed that Doug wanted to buy a house directly behind Ashley’s while they were separated, suggesting a potential motive for control.
Dr. Jason Quintal, a counselor who worked with both Doug and Ashley, followed Vizzaccaro. Quintal shared his professional conclusions about Doug, stating that Ashley expressed fear towards him and that Doug maintained an “alpha-male” persona.
“Doug occurred as somebody who was domineering... super-controlling,” Quintal testified.
The testimony later shifted focus to the shooting incident itself. Michael Haag, a forensic shooting reconstruction expert, discussed the bullet trajectories. According to Haag, two bullets struck Doug from different angles, and other objects in the room were also hit by bullets, indicating that Ashley moved during the shooting.
“There’s not a physical possibility for the firearm to have been stationary between just those two shots,” Haag said.
Closing arguments from both sides are scheduled for Tuesday. Ashley Benefield faces charges of second-degree murder and could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Benefield herself testified last Friday, admitting to killing Doug but claiming it was in self-defense after he allegedly became physically abusive. On Monday, Taylor called several witnesses to support this defense.
The first to testify was Bruce Ferris, a mental health professional specializing in domestic and family issues. Taylor asked Ferris to determine whether Ashley's alleged behaviors fit the definition of a domestic abuse victim. Ferris affirmed that they did, citing actions such as “acting deferential and subservient during joint therapy sessions, but decisively different in individual sessions... being exposed to threats, intimidation, holding down, humiliating, cursing.”
“These are again techniques of compliance, not wanting to poke the bear,” Ferris explained. “They don't want anyone to know, and they don't want their abuser to be angry by disclosing.”
Next on the stand was Vincent Vizzaccaro, a Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch-based realtor. Doug had previously contacted Vizzaccaro about purchasing a home in Lakewood Ranch, near where Ashley lived. Judge Matt Whyte initially ruled Vizzaccaro's evidence, emails between him and Doug, as hearsay and temporarily dismissed him. However, after deliberation, Whyte overturned this decision, allowing Vizzaccaro to testify.
Vizzaccaro revealed that Doug wanted to buy a house directly behind Ashley’s while they were separated, suggesting a potential motive for control.
Dr. Jason Quintal, a counselor who worked with both Doug and Ashley, followed Vizzaccaro. Quintal shared his professional conclusions about Doug, stating that Ashley expressed fear towards him and that Doug maintained an “alpha-male” persona.
“Doug occurred as somebody who was domineering... super-controlling,” Quintal testified.
The testimony later shifted focus to the shooting incident itself. Michael Haag, a forensic shooting reconstruction expert, discussed the bullet trajectories. According to Haag, two bullets struck Doug from different angles, and other objects in the room were also hit by bullets, indicating that Ashley moved during the shooting.
“There’s not a physical possibility for the firearm to have been stationary between just those two shots,” Haag said.
Closing arguments from both sides are scheduled for Tuesday. Ashley Benefield faces charges of second-degree murder and could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Karen Read Trial, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
945 episodi
Alle Folgen
×Benvenuto su Player FM!
Player FM ricerca sul web podcast di alta qualità che tu possa goderti adesso. È la migliore app di podcast e funziona su Android, iPhone e web. Registrati per sincronizzare le iscrizioni su tutti i tuoi dispositivi.