It appears that most news media, former colleagues at Florida State University, acquaintances etc. have lost interests about the case of Dan Markel’s murder. Of course, Dan’s family and the prosecutors are perhaps anxious to move forward asap.
The defendants Sigfredo Garcia & Katherine Magbanua, along with Dan’s former in-law who was of mentioned in a related court affidavit papers that did not lead to arrest, are perhaps in favor of slowing the process. The judge in the case appears to take his time, granting several motions left and right.
The last news I heard was the January 22, 2018 court date of Sigfredo Gracia. It is worth telling “JURY NON JURY TRIAL 1/22/2018 8:30 AM HANKINSON JIS”. A bench trial is certainly speedy as compared to a jury trial because there is no need to select a jury.
Will this be advantageous to Sigfredo Garcia? Will Sigfredo Garcia be represented by a public defender since he declared indigence? Why is Sigfredo garcia not try a leniency plea deal? His alleged benefit from the crime is miniscule (few thousands of $, few used cars, and the relationship with Magbanua which is now irretrievably lost since the pair are both imprisoned) as compared to what he may lose (his life!).
Katherine MAgbanua’s case has had multiple answers to demand for discovery in May and June. This means her defense lawyers got the state attorneys to disclose what they have. Then … quiet!
“Co-defendant Katherine Magbanua is still in jail awaiting trial. Prosecutors say right now there are no plans to try them together.”
http://www.wctv.tv/content/news/Trial-delayed-for-accused-triggerman-in-Markel-murder-397321961.html
The source of the vast financial resource used to defend Katherine Magbanua is still unclarified. She is characterized as a person of very limited money. There is a schedule for “MOTION HEARING
7/21/2017 8:30 AM HANKINSON JIS MOTION CONFLICT INTEREST INQUIRY AND CMC (4 HRS)” Perhaps, the judge will not let the conflict of interests issue unsolved next week.
It is my guess this case will explode into a fury of plea deals before the January 22 2018 trial. What remains uncertain is the prospect of multiple more arrests, as suggested by the story told by Luis Rivera. I am astonished that Luis Rivera’s confession and the jail information from Sigfredo Garcia’s cellmates led to nothing.