Felony Justice
Slain regulation prof’s former brother-in-law was homicide mastermind, alleged go-between testifies
David Northway, a public info officer for the Tallahassee Police Division in Florida, reveals a picture of Sigfredo Garcia throughout a press convention in Could 2016. Garcia is the convicted triggerman within the 2014 demise of Florida regulation professor Dan Markel. Photograph by Joe Rondone/The Tallahassee Democrat by way of the Related Press.
The alleged go-between within the homicide of Florida regulation professor Dan Markel testified Monday that Markel’s former brother-in-law was the mastermind of the homicide plot.
The previous brother-in-law, dentist Charlie Adelson, “knew he was hiring successful man,” alleged go-between Katherine Magbanua testified Monday.
The Tallahassee Democrat and WCTV have protection.
Markel, a regulation professor on the Florida State College School of Regulation, was killed in July 2014. Prosecutors contend that Charlie Adelson ordered the hit in order that his sister, lawyer Wendi Adelson, might relocate with the previous couple’s two kids to be close to her household in Miami.
Magbanua had a romantic relationship with Charlie Adelson and with the convicted triggerman, Sigfredo Garcia. Magbanua was also convicted of homicide within the case, whereas getaway automobile driver Luis Rivera pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide.
The defense contends that Magbanua was mastermind of the homicide plot, and the objective was to extort funds from Charlie Adelson below menace of hurt to Adelson’s household.
Protection lawyer Daniel Rashbaum pursued that angle whereas questioning Magbanua, in response to the WCTV’s stay weblog.
“Isn’t it true that you simply have been the mastermind of Dan Markel’s homicide?” Rashbaum requested.
“No, sir; that was Charlie,” Magbanua replied.
“Ma’am, let me ask the questions. I do know you will have an agenda, however let me ask the questions,” Rashbaum mentioned.
The remark prompted an objection and an instruction from Decide Stephen Everett that jurors ought to ignore the remark about having an agenda.
Magbanua mentioned she beforehand turned down a deal for immunity within the case if she cooperated as a result of it could imply giving up Garcia, who’s the daddy of her kids. She additionally mentioned she lied in earlier trials to avoid wasting herself. She mentioned she wasn’t mendacity now, and she or he was not promised something for her testimony.
Magbanua testified that Adelson gave her stapled cash in an envelope to pay Garcia, Rivera and herself. The money was moldy and moist, she mentioned, and she or he thought that it may need been that approach as a result of it was washed.
Markel’s ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, testified Thursday that it’s “fully unfaithful” that her household was chargeable for the slaying. She additionally denied telling ex-boyfriend Jeffrey Lacasse that her brother had significantly seemed into hiring a killer, and the associated fee might be as excessive as $50,000, the Tallahassee Democrat experiences.
Lacasse testified Friday that Wendi Adelson did inform him about Charlie Adelson trying into hiring successful man, and she or he was very severe on the time. Wendi Adelson’s assertion “was chilling, scary, made my abdomen quake,” Lacasse testified.
Rashbaum requested Lacasse why he didn’t go to police straight away.
“I didn’t are available in straight away as a result of I used to be terrified of your consumer,” Lacasse replied.
