Paul L. Caron
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Thursday, January 20, 2022

Magbanua's Defense Team Seeks To Call Adelson Family As Witnesses In Feb 14 Dan Markel Murder Trial

Tallahassee Democrat, Magbanua's Defense Team Looking to Call Adelson Family as Witnesses in Markel Murder Trial:

Adelson FamilyProsecutors are objecting to Katherine Magbanua’s defense attorneys calling alleged co-conspirators in Dan Markel’s murder as witnesses in her upcoming trial because they may have invoked their rights against self-incrimination.

Magbanua’s second trial on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder is set to begin next month. Three years ago, her trial ended in a mistrial.

Her Miami defense team last month filed an amended witness list which includes Markel’s former in-laws, who prosecutors have alleged are the financiers behind the murder-for-hire plot that ended the Florida State University law professor’s life in 2014.

Harvey, Donna and Charlie Adelson have all denied any involvement in the murder and have not been charged by prosecutors. They are among 10 defense witnesses listed in the Nov. 30 filing in Leon County Circuit Court.

The list also includes WCTV news anchor and reporter Julie Montanaro and Markel’s ex-wife Wendi Adelson, who testified in 2019 when Magabanua was tried alongside her long-time boyfriend Sigfredo Garcia. ...

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman filed a motion asking Circuit Judge Robert Wheeler to “prohibit the defense from calling any witnesses for the purpose of those witnesses invoking their rights to remain silent.”

Cappleman has implicated the Adelson family in the plot but has said there's a lack of evidence linking them to the murder.

WXTL, Adelson Family Members Requested as Witnesses by Magbanua's Defense Team in Markel Murder Trial

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2022/01/magbanuas-defense-team-seeks-to-call-adelson-family-as-witnesses-in-feb-14-dan-markel-murder-trial.html

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