DOWNTOWN TALLAHASSEE, FL — Following nearly a year of delays and three days of jury selection, opening statements will begin in the Donna Adelson trial.
Adelson is accused of orchestrating the shooting death of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, in July 2014. She was arrested in November 2023 at the Miami International Airport. Investigators believe Adelson had Markel killed following the 2013 divorce from her daughter, Wendi, after Wendi wanted to move herself and their children to South Florida, and Markel didn't.
Four others, including Adelson's son Charlie, are serving time for Markel's death. Charlie and Wendi are listed as witnesses for the state.
WATCH TRIAL LIVE BELOW:
LIVE BLOG:
11:53am: Jurors back in the courtroom for Dr. Clark to continue his testimony. He is describing images of Markel's autopsy. Some of the photos are X-Rays, others are more graphic showing the gunshot wound, bruising, and swelling on Markel's face.
We are sitting behind Adelson but she appears to be shaken and is being comforted by one of a paralegal on the Defense team.
11:41am: The Judge just called a brief break in the middle of Dr. Clark's testimony.
11:32am: The State is showing photos of Dan Markel in the hospital when she was still alive in the hospital following being shot on July 18. Audible gasp from people in the gallery.
State is calling their next witness: Dr. Anthony J. Clark, medical examiner. He says he has performed over 8000 autopsies in his working life. He conducted the autopsy of Dan Markel on July 19 at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.
11:20am: State calls two more witnesses, both retired law enforcement officers with the Tallahassee Police Department: David Sims and Joanna Maltese.
State is asking these witnesses to describe what they found on the day of Markel's murder on July 18, 2014.
State is using photo evidence to support their testimonies. Jurors are listening and looking at photos, no note taking appears to be happening right now.
10:55 a.m.:
Defense wraps up opening statement. Notably, a lot shorter than the State's opening.
The state has now called the first witness: James Geiger. He lives on Trescott Drive, in the house next to where Markel used to live.
Geiger says he heard was sitting in his house with his wife on July 18, 2014, when he heard a loud popping sound. Before a what he describes as a light colored car backing out of the Markel driveway very quickly.
Geiger is recounting when he found Markel after he had been shot in the head in his car in his driveway. He describes a head covered in blood, "rolling from side to side" — "I'm calling, Danny, Danny, what happened."
The State is assisting his witness testimony with photos of his house, the former Markel house, and photos of Markel's car.
10:34 a.m.:
Jackie Fulford with the Defense team is delivering the opening statement.
There's two easels, one featuring a picture of Dan Markel, and one featuring a photo of Donna Adelson.
Fulford begins by sharing information about how respected and loved Markel was in his professional life — "he was very well respected," "he was a very smart man." Also shares how important Markel's two sons were to him.
Zelman replaces the photo of Donna Adelson with a poster card with details about the key players on the day of Dan Markel's murder on July 18, 2014. There a pictures of Garcia, Rivera, and Magbanua.
Defense's statement mentioning that Markel's murder is "outrageous" but that it's also "outrageous" that Adelson has been deemed the matriarch and mastermind behind the death of Markel.
Defense asking jury to listen to all of the "evidence" and asking them to recognize what evidence the State actually has that Adelson was involved in the planning and execution of Markel's murder.
10:12 a.m.:
Prosecution wraps up their opening statement — "you will see that this defendant conspired with her son who solicited his girlfriend to get this murder done."
The Judge has now issued a quick break. We expect to resume at 10:20 a.m. for the Defense's opening statement.
9:58 a.m.:
The Prosecution is still delivering its opening statement. They are running down the events following the murder of Dan Markel and the communication between Donna Adelson, Charlie Adelson, Charlie's ex-girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, and the hitmen, Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia.
The prosecution is going through each of the trials that have come before this one: Rivera, Garcia, Magbanua, and, most recently, Charlie Adelson. One juror has been taking notes throughout the prosecution's opening statement.
Prosecution is now talking about Adelson trying to obtain an emergency visa to Vietnam. Adelson was arrested at Miami airport trying to board that flight to Vietnam.
9:16 a.m.: The State begins its opening statements. Sarah Kathryn Dugan is beginning the statement. The State is using a presentation to show photos.
The prosecution is giving a recap of the events that led to the killing of Dan Markel. Some jurors appear to be taking notes; most are looking at Dugan.
The prosecution is sharing details with email evidence about Donna Adelson's involvement in her daugther, Wendi's life during the divorce case between her and Dan Markel. Wendi wanted to relocate their children from Tallahassee to Miami. The court ruled against this request.
"Markel has not beaten the Adelson family yet" — The prosecution sharing how Donna Adelson reacted to that decision. The prosecution is sharing communication between Donna, Wendi, and her son, Charlie.
"You'll hear throughout this trial that the Adelson family is a tight-knit family." The prosecution is sharing some of the family history of the Adelson family, including how they worked with each other at a dental practice down in South Florida.
9:04 a.m.:
14 jurors file into the jury box where we are expecting opening statements and first witnesses in the Donna Adelson trial. Judge Stephen Everett is explaining how the trial will play out.
Harvey Adelson is also in the courtroom, similar to Thursday. He is sitting in the first row of the pews behind the Defense.
This morning, Judge Everett has also "granted in part" a motion in limine for the defense. The court records also show the Judge granted the defense's motion to suppress. Most of the records are sealed, but we believe this to be in relation to evidence from a "jailhouse snitch".
WTXL is in the courtroom and will provide updates throughout the day.
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