New York Post

Another order of protection – for ‘killer’ husband

- By REUVEN FENTON in Cheektowag­a, NY, and BRUCE GOLDING in NYC

Keaira Bennefield’s estranged husband — who now stands accused of killing her with a shotgun — somehow obtained an order of protection against her after he savagely beat the mom of three in their home, The Post has learned.

The stunning new details behind the Buffalo woman’s shocking Oct. 5 slaying are contained in an official transcript of ex-con Adam Bennefield’s arraignmen­t in the vicious, caught-on-camera beating (above) inside their home — less than a week before cops say he gunned down his wife (together right).

Keaira, 30, said that Adam Bennefield, 45, “told me to ‘shut the f--k up’ and that he was going to kill me” while allegedly punching her up and down her body on Sept. 28, according to a police report.

During his Oct. 4 arraignmen­t in that incident, Adam Bennefield was slapped with a “full stay-away order of protection” to ostensibly safeguard his estranged wife, according to the transcript.

But earlier in the hearing, defense lawyer Crystal Wentz revealed that Adam Bennefield had obtained his own order of protection — against Keaira — in Erie County Family Court the day before.

Wentz objected to the new order barring Adam Bennefield from the couple’s apartment because his earlier order also included keeping the mom away from “all of the children, in effect giving custody” to him.

But Cheektowag­a Town Justice James Speyer Jr. called the allegation­s against Adam Bennefield “very serious” and said that “as far as what’s happening here in Cheektowag­a Criminal Court, that’s where I have to be concerned.”

It’s unclear on what grounds Adam Bennefield obtained the order of protection against Keaira.

Under New York’s bail reform law, Adam Bennefield was set free because the charges against him were misdemeano­rs. The next morning, he allegedly shot Keaira while she was driving her three kids to school.

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