Self-Defense

In some cases of assault and murder, the defendant claims they had no choice but to act to protect themselves or others.

Detective Chris Gillum, a domestic violence investigator, takes the stand.
play button
Judge Matt Whyte admonishes defense attorney Neil Taylor.
play button
Sheriff, defendant combo image
play button
woman testifies
play button
Doug Benefield's daughter, Eva Benefield, takes the stand on day one of the Black Swan Murder Trial. Ashley Benefield is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, Douglas Benefield.
play button
John Sant takes the stand in the Black Swan Murder Trial. Sant, Ashley Benefield's neighbor at the time of the shooting, takes the stand as the jury listens to the 911 call he made on Ashley's behalf.
play button
woman escorted from court
The jury is selected in the Black Swan Murder Trial. Ashley Benefield is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband, Doug Benefield. Ashley claims she shot her husband in self-defense.
play button
attorney speaks to judge
play button
Jury selection is slated to begin in late July in the Black Swan Murder Trial where Ashley Benefield is accused in the shooting death of her husband, Doug. Benefield claims self-defense, while prosecutors say it was about a custody dispute.
play button
Doug Benefield's former attorney, Stephanie Murphy, joins Court TV to discuss the status of the family court case that occurred before Ashley Benefield killed her husband, Doug.
play button
woman testifies
play button
Court TV speaks with Doug Benefield's cousin, Tommie Benefield. Tommie speaks about the circumstances in which Doug and Ashley were purportedly reconciling and on the verge of withdrawing the divorce petition and move to Maryland together up until he was killed.
play button
Marcia Thompson takes the stand in the Abused Wife or Murderer Trial. Thompson, a U.S. Customs officer is facing trial for the shooting death of her husband, Terry Thompson.
play button
Ashley Benefield appears at a pre-trial hearing as supporters gather ahead of the Black Swan Murder Trial. Jury selection begins on July 22, as Benefield faces trial on charges she murdered her husband, Douglas.
play button
Marcia Thompson
play button
Court TV takes a look at the 'We Stand With Ashley' movement as the Black Swan Murder Trial approaches. Ashley Benefield, 32, is charged with second-degree murder for the death of her husband, Douglas Benefield, 58 in Sept. 2020.
play button
Former ballerina, Ashley Benefield, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her husband, Douglas Benefield. The Black Swan Murder Trial is scheduled to start in late July.
play button
George Alan Kelly
George Alan Kelly sits in court
play button
Blonde-haired middle-aged female judge sits at the bench.
play button
Pamela Bordeaux stands before the verdict is read in court
play button
Jury deliberations continue on Wednesday in the trial of Pamela Bordeaux, who's accused of shooting and killing her former son-in-law, Sean Babbitt. Bordeaux claims she was acting in self-defense.
play button
Attorney Binu Palal presents the prosecution rebuttal in the Protective Grandmother Murder Trial, where retired Las Vegas police detective, Pamela Bordeaux, is on trial for the shooting death of her former son-in-law, Sean Babbitt.
play button
Defense attorney Erick Ferran presents closing arguments, arguing self-defense in the Protective Grandmother Murder Trial, where Pamela Bordeaux is on trial for the shooting death of her former son-in-law.
play button
In their closing argument, the prosecution argues that,
play button
Retired police detective, Pamela Bordeaux, testifies about the shooting incident with her former son-in-law,
play button
Bodycam footage shows the arrest of 60-year-old Pamela Bordeaux, who is accused of fatally shooting, her 32-year-old former son-in-law, Sean Babbitt on April 22, 2019.
play button
george kelly appears in court
State rebuttal closing in the case against George Alan Kelly
play button

TOP STORIES

sketch of Sean 'Diddy' Combs in court
R. Kelly outside court