DOWNTOWN TALLAHASSEE, FL — Witness testimonies continue in the trial of Donna Adelson, including Wendi Adelson who is testifying in her mother's 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.
LIVE BLOG:
1:20 p.m.: Wendi Adelson back on the stand as she continues to testify.
State begins by asking about Wendi Adelson's relationship with her brother, Charlie Adelson. He was convicted for the murder of Markel in 2023.
11:56 a.m.: Court breaks for lunch. State will resume questioning Wendi Adelson at 1:15 p.m.
10:24 a.m.: Wendi Adelson is on the stand. We are waiting for the jurors to come back into the courtroom.
State walking Wendi Adelson through various sources of communication evidence to show the relationship between Wendi and Dan Markel and Donna Adelson.
10:18 a.m.:
The State has called Wendi Adelson to the stand. She is the ex-wife of Dan Markel and the daughter of Donna Adelson.
Judge has called a brief recess for the jury. John Lauro, Wendi Adelson's lawyer, is speaking on Wendi's behalf. He is reminding the courtroom that Wendi is testifying under the state's subpoena. A last minute motion hearing before the trial started quashed the Defense's motion for Wendi to testify on the Defense's behalf.
9:19 a.m.:
Jury is not in the jury box. The State is calling investigator Jason Newlin again to the stand. This time with the jury in the courtroom.
The State is questioning Newlin on connections between the divorce filing and that information being forwarded and recognized by Donna Adelson.
The State is arguing that Adelson had a large role in the entirety of the divorce proceedings between Markel and her daughter, Wendi. Investigator Newlin is using email evidence from the 2 year period in which the divorce and custody battle was taking place to show Adelson's role in the proceedings.
After cross examination and redirection of Investigator Newlin by the Defense and then the State, his testimony is over.
8:56 a.m.:
Judge calling a brief recess, jurors are being brought into the courtroom at 9:15 a.m.
8:39 a.m.:
Court resumes for the Donna Adelson trial.
Investigator Jason Newlin of the State Attorney's Office taking the stand.
No jury in the courtroom right now. The State and the Defense are taking about the "grandma motion", the motion filed by Dan Markel in which he was seeking to limit Donna Adelson's contact with her grandchildren.
The State is trying to lay down the foundation to use emails send to a shared email for Donna and Harvey Adelson about the divorce proceedings as evidence in front of the jury.
The Defense says they believe the State's argument is entirely spectacle and wants to limit this evidence.
The Judge has ruled this evidence can be used to show the defendent's state of mind, motive, or intent and says foundation will need to be laid out in front of the jury.
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