News Summary
The trial of Donna Adelson, charged with murder and conspiracy in the shooting death of her former son-in-law Dan Markel, has been postponed. The defense requested the delay to review 100,000 emails and call recordings. A court decision on this motion is pending. The trial was originally set to start in June, and various complicating legal issues have arisen, including a motion for the judge to disqualify himself. An exclusion motion for a book by Adelson’s daughter is also under consideration.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – The trial of Donna Adelson, who faces serious charges including murder, solicitation, and conspiracy in connection with the 2014 shooting death of her former son-in-law Dan Markel, has been delayed as the defense has requested a continuance. This decision comes after a recent court hearing held to discuss the defense’s motions, where the judge set a new deadline of May 16 for motions concerning the existing charges against Adelson.
The defense team argued they needed additional time to review approximately 100,000 emails and newly discovered call recordings that they believe are pertinent to the case. They contended that the volume of material justifies a delay, prompting the court to consider whether to postpone the trial originally scheduled to commence in June. A decision on this potential continuance is pending.
During the hearing, Donna Adelson appeared virtually via Zoom. Furthermore, her defense made a significant request to exclude any references to a fictional book written by her daughter, Wendi Adelson, who is also the ex-wife of Dan Markel. They argue that the book’s contents might confuse the jurors due to its close resemblance to real-life events surrounding the family’s history, particularly regarding Wendi’s portrayal of living in Tallahassee.
The court’s ruling on this book exclusion motion is awaited in the coming weeks. Tied to the case is the tumultuous custody battle between Wendi Adelson and Dan Markel, which played a substantial role in the circumstances leading to Markel’s assassination in his driveway.
Donna’s son, Charlie Adelson, has already been convicted for his involvement in the murder-for-hire plot. Additionally, Katherine Magbanua, his former girlfriend, along with the two hired gunmen involved in the shooting, have also faced convictions related to the case.
The new defense team has emphasized the discovery of emails indicating Wendi’s unhappiness with her life in Tallahassee before Markel’s death, which they argue is critical evidence that supports their case. However, the prosecution believes this evidence is relevant and warrants discussion in court.
Complications have arisen in Donna Adelson’s legal representation. Her most recent defense team sought to renew a motion for the presiding judge, Stephen Everett, to disqualify himself, but this motion was denied on grounds of being legally insufficient. The judge noted that prior defense attorneys were disqualified due to conflicts of interest, which has led to interruptions in the continuity of her defense mounting a solid case.
Notably, just prior to the selection of jurors, Donna’s previous attorney, Dan Rashbaum, withdrew from the case because of conflicts that could endanger the trial. Furthermore, the judge previously barred a private investigator due to similar conflict issues, although he later permitted limited communication concerning a witness.
During the hearing, Donna testified she is aware of two women currently incarcerated who could potentially provide favorable testimony about the case, claiming they overheard Magbanua admitting to framing the Adelson family. However, the court denied the motion to depose these witnesses before the trial, expressing that the women’s previous drug issues do not provide sufficient justification for concerns about their availability.
Some legal analysts predict that the defense may be shifting strategies to discredit Magbanua should she choose to testify against Donna Adelson. Meanwhile, Charlie Adelson continues to appeal his conviction, although motions for resentencing have recently been denied by the court.
The court’s forthcoming decisions, particularly regarding the pending motions, could significantly impact the trajectory of Donna Adelson’s trial and its proceedings moving forward.
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HERE Resources
Trial Date Approaches for Donna Adelson in Notorious Murder Case
Additional Resources
- Tallahassee: New Investigation in Donna Adelson Case
- WTXL: Donna Adelson Could Have Trial Continued
- Court TV: Donna Adelson Wants Book Storyline Excluded
- Wikipedia: Trial
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Legal Trial
