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BRADENTON, Fla. – Several defense witnesses took the stand today in the Manatee County trial of Ashley Benefield, 32, a former professional ballerina accused of murdering her husband, Doug, in 2020.
Ashley’s defense team, led by attorney Neil Taylor, have sought to portray her as a frightened wife affected by several rounds of emotional abuse by Doug, who was terrified of her husband’s capabilities. The first witness Taylor called was Bruce Ferris, a mental health professional who specializes in domestic and family issues.
Previous article: Ashley Benefield gives emotional testimony at murder trial: ‘I thought he was going to kill me’
In cross-examining Ferris, Taylor asked him to determine whether Ashley’s behavior met the definition of a domestic violence victim, including “being submissive and submissive in joint therapy sessions and then significantly differently in separate sessions…being subjected to threats, intimidation, restraints, humiliation and abuse.”
Ferris said he fits that description.
“This is another submission technique where you don’t want to provoke the other person,” Ferris says. “You don’t want anyone to know and you don’t want to upset the abuser by disclosing it.”
Pictured: Ashley Benefield in court on Monday
Next to take the stand was Vincent Biscarro, a real estate broker based in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. Doug had previously contacted Biscarro about buying a home in Lakewood Ranch.
However, during multiple court visits on the fifth day of the trial, Judge Matt White initially ruled that Visaccaro’s evidence, namely emails between Visaccaro and Doug, was hearsay and temporarily removed Visaccaro from the courtroom. After deliberation, the decision was reversed and Visaccaro was allowed back into the courtroom.
Visaccaro testified that Doug wanted to buy a house directly behind the house where Ashley lived during their separation.
Dr. Jason Quintal, a counselor who had worked with Doug and Ashley in the past, followed Visaccaro to the stand. During his testimony today, Taylor asked Quintal to offer his own conclusions about Doug Benefield.
Quintal said Ashley was fearful of Doug, who had developed an “alpha male” persona.
“Doug came across as a domineering, extremely controlling person,” Quintal said.
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