Did a juror send texts in the courthouse? Ashley Benefield asks for new murder trial

The Lakewood Ranch woman at the center of the high-profile ex-ballerina murder case is asking for a new trial after allegations of juror misconduct.

Ashley Benefield , 32, and her attorney filed several legal motions after a Manatee County jury found her guilty of manslaughter for shooting her husband, 58-year-old Doug Benefield. The case attracted national headlines and widespread media attention in July.

Among the court filings is a request for a new trial after defense attorney Neil Taylor alleged a juror concealed a history of domestic violence and another snuck a phone into deliberations.

The motion for a new trial alleges a juror was both a victim of domestic battery and had multiple petitions for protective injunctions filed against them by their ex-husband, seeking to protect himself and their child, according to court records.

The domestic violence allegations against the juror “mirror key elements in the state’s case,” with Ashley Benefield filing for several similar injunctions against her husband on similar grounds.

But Taylor said the juror failed to disclose this information on a questionnaire at the start of jury selection and then “further concealed” that information during questioning.

Benefield defense asks for new murder trial

On the questionnaire, which was completed under the penalty of perjury, Taylor said the juror falsely indicated that neither she nor a family member had been a victim of a crime.

During questioning, Taylor said the juror also remained silent when asked about child custody issues, domestic violence and involvement with injunctions, according to court records.

“Given the parallels” between the juror’s alleged concealed history and “the facts of this case,” Taylor wrote he would have “undoubtedly exercised a peremptory challenge to remove” the juror had this information been disclosed, according to court records.

This wasn’t the only allegation of juror misconduct mentioned in the motion requesting a new trial.

Taylor is also alleging that a juror brought a cell phone into the jury room and used it while discussing the case with other jurors, according to court records. If true, that would violate the court’s instruction and Florida law, which prohibits unauthorized materials in the jury room.

Attorney alleges juror misconduct

Taylor based his allegations on comments made by a YouTube user named “That-Hoodie Guy” during a court livestream. Taylor argued that “these comments contained real-time information that could only have originated from within the jury room, suggesting a breach of the court’s instructions,” according to court records.

“Verdict incoming,” the YouTube user wrote at 10:20 p.m. according to court records. “My sister snuck a flip phone in, she text me 5-1 guilty may compromise on manslaughter,” he wrote a few minutes later.

About 10 minutes later, the jury returned with a verdict of manslaughter with a firearm, according to court records.

There were five YouTube comments referenced in the motion. All of them mentioned either a pending verdict, a sister sneaking a phone in or a possible manslaughter charge. The comments were left between 10:20 and 10:28 p.m., according to court records.

“The timing and specificity of these comments, followed by corresponding jury actions, strongly suggest That-Hoodie Guy’s information originated from within the jury room during active deliberations,” Taylor wrote in the court filing.

In addition to asking for a new trial, Taylor requested Judge Matt Whyte bring the jurors back to the court to be interviewed.

Following the guilty verdict, Whyte remanded Ashley Benefield to the custody of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, revoking her $100,000 bond despite Taylor’s attempts to keep his client out on bond.

Ashley Benefield is set to be sentenced for manslaughter on Oct. 22 at 8:30 a.m., according to court records. According to Florida law, she faces at least 11.5 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years.

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