Trials & Litigation
Rejecting ‘extortion layaway’ protection, jurors convict dentist in homicide of FSU legislation prof Dan Markel
Charlie Adelson is cross-examined by Assistant State Legal professional Georgia Cappleman throughout his trial Nov. 3 in Tallahassee, Florida, for the homicide of Dan Markel, a Florida State College School of Regulation professor. Photograph by Alicia Devine/The Tallahassee Democrat by way of the Related Press.
Prosecutors gained a fourth conviction within the July 2014 homicide of Dan Markel, a Florida State College School of Regulation professor, after jurors returned a responsible verdict Monday in opposition to Markel’s former brother-in-law.
Jurors in Tallahassee, Florida, discovered dentist Charlie Adelson, 47, responsible of responsible of conspiracy to commit homicide, solicitation of homicide and first-degree homicide. They deliberated for about three hours.
Publications with protection embody the Tallahassee Democrat (by way of USA Today), Law360, Law & Crime and the New York Times.
Prosecutors in Leon County, Florida, had alleged that Charlie Adelson paid hit males to kill Markel, with Charlie Adelson’s former girlfriend performing because the go-between.
“Through the eight-day testimony portion of the trial, prosecutors painted Adelson as a rich and boastful ‘playboy’ who thought he was good sufficient to get away with homicide,” in line with the Tallahassee Democrat.
Jurors apparently rejected Charlie Adelson’s claim that he was the sufferer of an extortion by gang members who killed Markel with out Charlie Adelson’s data after which instructed the previous girlfriend that he could be killed if he didn’t pay them a 3rd of one million {dollars}. Charlie Adelson stated he gave all of the money that he had at his dwelling—$138,000—to his former girlfriend and promised to repay the remainder in $3,000 month-to-month funds.
Charlie Adelson stated he didn’t understand till a lot later that the ex=girlfriend was a part of the extortion plot.
In her closing argument, Assistant State Legal professional Georgia Cappleman derided the cost plan as “extortion layaway” and stated Charlie Adelson thought that he was “untouchable,” in line with the Tallahassee Democrat.
Prosecutors had alleged that Charlie Adelson employed gang members to kill Markel through the legislation professor’s custody battle together with his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, a lawyer who was Charlie Adelson’s sister. The motive was to permit Wendi Adelson to maneuver with the youngsters from Tallahassee, Florida, to be close to her household in Miami.
The go-between was Katherine Magbanua, who had been romantically concerned with Charlie Adelson and the triggerman, Sigfredo Garcia. She testified that Charlie Adelson “knew he was hiring a success man,” and that he was the mastermind of the homicide plot.
Magbanua and Garcia have been beforehand convicted of homicide. Garcia’s confederate, Luis Rivera, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
A key piece of proof through the newest trial was a recorded restaurant conversation between Magbanua and Charlie Adelson. It occurred after an undercover FBI agent posing as a blackmailer approached Adelson’s mom, Donna Adelson, in what has been termed a “bump” operation.
The agent gave Donna Adelson an article concerning the homicide with “$5,000” written on it, together with a cellphone quantity. The agent talked about “Katie,” a reference to Magbanua, and used the nickname for one of many gang members.
Donna Adelson referred to as Charlie Adelson afterward, regardless that the FBI agent had not talked about his title, and stated they needed to discuss “some paperwork.” Charlie Adelson requested whether or not it concerned himself or different folks.
“Nicely, in all probability each of us,” Donna Adelson replied. She later acknowledged that it was “a superb chance” that somebody was blackmailing them.
On the Dolce Vita restaurant in Miami, Charlie Adelson puzzled whether or not the one that approached his mom was a blackmailer or police officer.
“How do you get folks to speak?” he stated. “You throw a smoke grenade, and then you definately get all of the cockroaches to expire.”
Charlie Adelson additionally commented that, “if they’d any proof, we might have already gone to the airport.”
The protection had argued that Magbanua was the mastermind of the extortion plot hatched after she grew to become conscious that the Adelson household had provided $1 million to get Markel to maneuver to Miami.
In his closing argument, protection lawyer Daniel Rashbaum argued that there was a “mountain of cheap doubt” within the case in opposition to Charlie Adelson.
Markel’s mother and father, Ruth and Phil Markel, issued an announcement by their legal professionals at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. They thanked the prosecution workforce, legislation enforcement, the Tallahassee, Florida, group, the web group, the media, their family and friends and others.
“Whereas nothing will ever restore the opening torn in our hearts when Danny was stolen from us, we recognize all these close to and much who’ve joined our household in searching for justice for Dan, and in protecting his reminiscence alive with such dedication,” they stated.
No different Adelson member of the family has been charged. After the decision, Cappleman spoke with reporters who requested whether or not there could be any extra prices within the case.
“I don’t know the reply to that,” she stated. “So keep tuned.”
See additionally:
“Defense blames law prof’s murder on extortion plot; lawyer ex-wife denies family involvement”
