Paul L. Caron
Dean





Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Prosecutors To Seek First Degree Murder Charge Today Against Katherine Magbanua In Grand Jury Proceedings In Dan Markel's Murder

MagnaubaTallahassee Democrat, Grand Jurors Weighing Magbanua's Connection to Markel Murder:

Leon County grand jurors will decide Tuesday whether to indict Katherine Magbanua in connection with the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel. ...

Investigators believe she is the go-between for the family of Markel's ex-wife Wendi Adelson, whose brother, Charlie Adelson, and mother, Donna Adelson, have been linked to the murder-for-hire plot by investigators but have not been charged. ... The Adelsons, through their attorneys, have called investigators’ theories “fanciful fiction.”

WCTV, Case Against Katherine Magbanua Headed to Grand Jury:

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman says the grand jury is scheduled for November 29th and she will seek a first-degree murder indictment against Magbanua. ...

Magbanua is scheduled to go before a judge for a case management hearing on December 6th and a bond reduction hearing December 9th. It's not clear yet if the grand jury decision could impact either of those scheduled hearings.

Above the Law, The Dan Markel Case: Katherine Magbanua’s Date With Destiny:

Christopher DeCoste, one of Katie Magbanua’s lawyers, ...  previously told us that Magbanua is not cutting any deal with the government because she is innocent of the charges against her. ... DeCoste and his co-counsel, Tara Kawass, claim that their client is ready for the coming legal battle. Here’s the statement they issued after I contacted them for comment on the upcoming grand jury proceedings:

Because Katie has maintained the truth, that she is innocent and had nothing to do with this, the prosecution has decided to tighten the screws a little more. That’s how they broke Luis Rivera and got him to lie. But Katie is much stronger than that thug. Plus, she has the truth on her side. That’s a powerful ally.

Update: Grand Jury Charges Katherine Magbanua With First Degree Murder In Killing Of Dan Markel

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2016/11/prosecutors-to-seek-first-degree-murder-charge-today-against-katherine-magbanua-in-grand-jury-procee.html

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Comments

I’m not a lawyer - but I know a bad one when I see one.

Clearly Magbanua's lawyers have accepted the premise that she has information that would allow her to cut a deal… but "she is too strong" to reveal it... Remarkable anecdotal admission...

I wonder who’s paying for this legal "dream team", Charlie? ...with checks no doubt.

I give her 3 months worth of prison sexual advances to flip on Charlie and family… She’s unusually beautiful, worth noting, beauty won't be an asset in prison...

I've grown to like Dan through these articles, hardworking, successful, cool guy. Married the wrong person to say the least.

Posted by: dylan | Nov 30, 2016 6:04:06 AM

Well. The grand jury indicted her, the internet says. Shocking.

Posted by: anon | Nov 29, 2016 3:55:49 PM

The Tallahassee Democrat just reported that the grand jury did indeed grant an indictment for murder in the first degree against Magbanua. Her attorneys' statements seem to indicate that she is willing to go to trial and gamble on being acquitted rather than strike a plea deal with the prosecution. Maybe they're bluffing? It's a huge risk for her because if she loses, she'll probably spend the rest of her life behind bars while the people who ordered the hit are free will go free.

Posted by: Barbara | Nov 29, 2016 2:40:17 PM

She has now been indicted.

Posted by: Travis | Nov 29, 2016 1:56:40 PM

The Tallahasse Democrat reported at 4:15PM that she was indicted today for first degree murder.

Posted by: AMTbuff | Nov 29, 2016 1:35:54 PM

She a crazy bae if she does not make a deal.

Posted by: Laz | Nov 29, 2016 9:48:14 AM

Astounding remarks from her lawyers. Why are they offering commentary at all?

Posted by: Art Deco | Nov 29, 2016 8:11:04 AM

she has the truth on her side.

The truth will lock her up.

Posted by: AMTbuff | Nov 29, 2016 7:58:15 AM