Legal Justice
‘Can a killer seem like a granny?’ Prosecutor poses questions as mother-in-law of slain regulation prof goes on trial
Donna Adelson, who’s charged within the 2014 murder-for-hire of Florida State College regulation professor Dan Markel, listens to potential jurors reply questions throughout the first day of jury choice Aug. 19, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. (Picture by Alicia Devine/The Tallahassee Democrat by way of the Related Press)
Legal professionals questioned potential jurors this week as 75-year-old Donna Adelson went on trial for the July 2014 homicide of her son-in-law, Florida State College School of Regulation professor Dan Markel.
Florida Assistant State Lawyer Georgia Cappleman requested what a killer appears like. “Can a killer seem like a granny?” she requested. She went on to ask jurors whether or not they may hold an open thoughts.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported on Cappleman’s query in its stay updates on the trial at Tallahassee.com.
Donna Adelson was arrested in November 2023 when she was on the Miami Worldwide Airport after she and her husband purchased one-way tickets to Vietnam. She is charged with homicide, conspiracy and solicitation within the slaying that occurred throughout a custody dispute between Markel and Donna Adelson’s daughter, Wendi Adelson.
Donna Adelson’s son, Florida dentist Charlie Adelson, was convicted on the identical costs for hiring hit males to kill Markel. He was convicted every week earlier than his mom’s arrest.
The alleged motive was to permit Wendi Adelson to maneuver with the youngsters from Tallahassee, Florida, to be close to her household in Miami.
One in every of Donna Adelson’s legal professionals, Joshua Zelman, requested jurors about jailhouse snitches. The query was apparently spurred by an investigation into allegations that Donna Adelson provided cash in change for favorable testimony whereas on the Leon County Courthouse, based on the Tallahassee Democrat. A earlier story is here.
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