The sentencing came about four months after a six-person jury found Ashley Benefield, 32, guilty of manslaughter. Benefield was initially charged with second-degree murder but jurors chose the lesser manslaughter offense after about seven hours of deliberation.

A former ballerina who was convicted of manslaughter in what she claimed was the self-defense killing of her estranged husband was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison.

Ashley Benefield was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for manslaughter after judge denied her motions for a new trial week before sentencing.

A former Florida ballerina has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following her manslaughter conviction for fatally shooting her estranged husband in 2020. Ashley Benefield contended that she killed her estranged husband,

Ashley Benefield, who was found guilty of manslaughter for shooting her husband during a domestic argument in 2020 sentencing hearing is set for today.