GUILTY FL - FSU Law Professor Dan Markel Murdered by Hitmen 18 July 2014 - *5 Guilty* #28

[Zedzded]

There is a lack of evidence that Wendi joined the conspiracy

How do you think people involved in conspiracies are convicted? If the State needed a text stating "Hey Bob, do you want to come and help me kill Joe?" "Hey Sam, yes that sounds like a grand plan. Lets both go and kill Joe together."

The often have little to work with, so circumstantial evidence becomes key e.g driving past a crime scene shortly after a 20 minute phone call with one of the conspirators.

if we apply your extremely high burden of proof to every criminal case, no one would be in prison. Hence the reason it's beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

[Zedzded]

Re CA's appeal. I do think he can demonstrate a conflict of interest. But he needs to be able to demonstrate there was an alternate strategy that his lawyer did not pursue.

 

[opt]

Re CA's appeal. I do think he can demonstrate a conflict of interest. But he needs to be able to demonstrate there was an alternate strategy that his lawyer did not pursue.

An alternate strategy with the double extortion story, or a different lie? Because double extortion could not have been sold better.

 

[Going Rogue]

How do you think people involved in conspiracies are convicted? If the State needed a text stating "Hey Bob, do you want to come and help me kill Joe?" "Hey Sam, yes that sounds like a grand plan. Lets both go and kill Joe together."

The often have little to work with, so circumstantial evidence becomes key e.g driving past a crime scene shortly after a 20 minute phone call with one of the conspirators.

if we apply your extremely high burden of proof to every criminal case, no one would be in prison. Hence the reason it's beyond a reasonable doubt.

I’m honestly not sure I understand your position at this point. In one post you’re seemingly emphasizing that the state still needs the “final piece of the puzzle” in a case against Wendi, and in the next you’re accusing me of demanding an extremely high burden of proof.

In a murder‑conspiracy case, the burden is beyond a reasonable doubt. That standard doesn’t allow a jury to “fill in the blanks” with what seems likely – it requires the state to prove the actual connection. If, as you’ve said, they still need that final piece of evidence to bridge the gap, then the gap exists. And a gap in proving someone joined a conspiracy is exactly what defines a 50/50 case.

So help me understand your position. Based on everything that’s publicly known, do you believe the state currently has enough evidence to convince a jury, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Wendi was part of the conspiracy? Because from what you’ve written, it sounds like you’re acknowledging they still need that missing link while simultaneously arguing the case is already strong enough.

 

[Weki]

If Charlie is granted a new trial, does his previous testimony get striken from the record? Does it become fruit of a poisonous tree if his counsel is deemed conflicted? Because if he is able to come up with a whole new defense and the state is not able to impeach him with his previous testimony that could get realllly interesting.

 

[Ferpo]

If Charlie is granted a new trial, does his previous testimony get striken from the record? Does it become fruit of a poisonous tree if his counsel is deemed conflicted? Because if he is able to come up with a whole new defense and the state is not able to impeach him with his previous testimony that could get realllly interesting.

IANAL but I've heard many of them say that all proceedings of CA trial #1 can be introduced by Prosecution if a trial #2 occurs. Even if he concocts a new defense, he has to answer to his elaborate "double extortion" tall tale, effectively admitting that he lied about the whole thing.

 

[Zedzded]

So help me understand your position. Based on everything that’s publicly known, do you believe the state currently has enough evidence to convince a jury, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Wendi was part of the conspiracy? Because from what you’ve written, it sounds like you’re acknowledging they still need that missing link while simultaneously arguing the case is already strong enough.

Well if they had one small piece of physical evidence that would suffice. The case as it stands, IMO is strong enough, but it is circumstantial. And it's hard to put our minds in the minds of the jury and determine if the case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It will require the State to expertly detail how the murder plot slowly evolved and introduce the circumstantial evidence that demonstrates WA's complicity.

I think Trescott can be used to demonstrate WA's involvement in the conspiracy, but I'm also cognisant of the fact this was a route she took and potentially a defendable piece of evidence. Most, if not all, of the evidence that implicates WA is defendable, but that's the nuance of circumstantial evidence. In solitude it means very little.

Unlike the case against CA. He gave the 2 hitmen $150k. That's like the cake. All the other stuff like TV hitmen jokes, various text messages etc are like the icing on the cake. WA has no cake which means the case against her is infinitely more complex. The State has to bundle all this circumstantial evidence together and hope it makes sense and proves WA was involved.

I think it's enough, but I also can see a scenario that the jury could have doubt especially if WA/Lauro adopt the strategy that I think they may go with. WA got wind of a plot to kill Dan. She was in denial that it was her family involved. "They would never do this." But over time she began to realise that they may actually have been involved (SY conversation - "What if my crazy brother Charlie hired hitmen?")

She spoke to CA on the morning of the murder as she was trying to figure out what was going on. Confused by this plan to repair a stupid TV she wanted to throw in the bin. She became suspicious that Dan was going to be killed and raced up there to check. Lied to the police as she was in shock/denial.

It is certainly not a slam dunk case.

 

[Zedzded]

If Charlie is granted a new trial, does his previous testimony get striken from the record? Does it become fruit of a poisonous tree if his counsel is deemed conflicted? Because if he is able to come up with a whole new defense and the state is not able to impeach him with his previous testimony that could get realllly interesting.

I think his testimony can be used in a new trial which means he literally has no defence and the jury will see he is a proven liar. I don't see any possible defence that be conjured up.

He was supposedly told by KM about the extortion attempt at 10.45pm, but his parents brought over the money at 9pm before he was extorted. Regardess in 2016 DA and CA spoke about a possibility that the police may follow the theory that it was drug dealers that killed Dan. Why would CA discuss this if he had been extorted and knew who the real killers were?

So his fundamental issue is he gave two hitmen who killed DanM $150k and no explanation for that. I can't for the life of me think of any possible defence hence the reason I think he will work to get a new trial and then offer up WA's head on a plate.

If CA has conjured up some "brilliant" new defence, I would hope his legal team would be giving him the cold hard truth. "The trial will cost you $1.5 million. You will lose and you will die in prison if this is the defence you want us to go with."

 

[Zedzded]

re additionally evidence. All of these clowns were beyond incompetent when planning and executing (pardon the pun) the plan. Reckless, careless, ill-disciplined. I just struggle to think LE have not found something on DA's devices (for example) that implicates WA. They have the drug dealers killed Dan text exchange which buries both CA and DA. What are the odds that over a period of 6+ years DA never once communicated anything to CA or DA regarding WA's involvement? It doesn't need to be much. Just a slight suggestion she knew would suffice.

 

[Going Rogue]

Well if they had one small piece of physical evidence that would suffice. The case as it stands, IMO is strong enough, but it is circumstantial. And it's hard to put our minds in the minds of the jury and determine if the case can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It will require the State to expertly detail how the murder plot slowly evolved and introduce the circumstantial evidence that demonstrates WA's complicity.

I think Trescott can be used to demonstrate WA's involvement in the conspiracy, but I'm also cognisant of the fact this was a route she took and potentially a defendable piece of evidence. Most, if not all, of the evidence that implicates WA is defendable, but that's the nuance of circumstantial evidence. In solitude it means very little.

Unlike the case against CA. He gave the 2 hitmen $150k. That's like the cake. All the other stuff like TV hitmen jokes, various text messages etc are like the icing on the cake. WA has no cake which means the case against her is infinitely more complex. The State has to bundle all this circumstantial evidence together and hope it makes sense and proves WA was involved.

I think it's enough, but I also can see a scenario that the jury could have doubt especially if WA/Lauro adopt the strategy that I think they may go with. WA got wind of a plot to kill Dan. She was in denial that it was her family involved. "They would never do this." But over time she began to realise that they may actually have been involved (SY conversation - "What if my crazy brother Charlie hired hitmen?")

She spoke to CA on the morning of the murder as she was trying to figure out what was going on. Confused by this plan to repair a stupid TV she wanted to throw in the bin. She became suspicious that Dan was going to be killed and raced up there to check. Lied to the police as she was in shock/denial.

It is certainly not a slam dunk case.

Last January, you sent me the link below to a post you wrote that doesn’t seem to support your current stance.

What is the evidence that shows Wendi is complicit in the conspiracy to kill Dan Markel?

In my opinion, the question you asked in the last paragraph of that post is one no one can answer – at least not to my satisfaction. New information was introduced during Donna’s trial, but nothing that definitively ties Wendi to the conspiracy. I agree that certain data points and actions raise suspicion that Wendi knew about the plans, but the state needs to show she agreed to the conspiracy or committed an act in furtherance of it.

With another year of knowledge, how would you answer your own question today?