In 2020, Ashley Benefield fatally shot her husband, Doug, in an act she described as self-defense. She said their marriage was rife with physical abuse and stalking and said he tried to poison her. Prosecutors said the killing was a final effort to win a contentious custody battle over their daughter.

When it was time for her to testify about firing the gun, Benefield was asked to step down from the witness stand and re-enact the shooting. What followed were a high drama and, according to the prosecution, unbelievable tears.