FL - FSU Law Professor Dan Markel Murdered by Hitmen-Donna Adelson Upcoming Trial - *5 Guilty* #27

[Florida_marlin]

Ole Miss Grad, the highly competent Kate Butler, providing hand writing testimony in front of a sheepish faced DA. Lovely! Hoddy Toddy, Kate!

 

[LosAngeles]

Not yet.

It's interesting that the prosecution didn't put Ruth or Phil (Markel) on the stand. I'm sure they have quite a bit to say about Donna's character, but maybe too scorned and biased. They could just speak to the facts (she influenced Wendi to keep us away from our grandchildren for two years...IDK, I'm just speculating). Can you imagine the controlled conversation you'd have to have with your own grandchildren regarding your son and their father? You'd have to be very skilled at compartmentalizing. I'm sure the boys have many questions (now that they are older). Such a shame.

 

[rescuemom]

After seeing her in action, I was also surprised that Jackie was chosen by the Adelsons. But she is a local attorney who speaks with a southern accent and maybe the Adelsons figured that she would connect better with a jury chosen from the local population. Keep in mind that Tallahassee is culturally different from much of Florida. It is much more southern in character, very different from most other metro areas in Florida. If the Adelsons had hired a slick, expensive lawyer from Miami, the jurors might not have liked their choice. Furthermore, maybe the Adelsons could no longer afford a high priced lawyer. But poor Jackie is out of her league in trying to defend a client enmeshed in a complicated murder conspiracy. And yes, she is a former judge who was forced to retire by the Florida Supreme Court. Is it too late for Donna to change her plea?

Judge Jackie Fulford ordered to retire

Circuit Judge Jackie L. Fulford’s career on the bench ended Wednesday as the Florida Supreme Court ordered her involuntary retirement because of a physical disability.

www.tallahassee.com

Keep in mind that Tallahassee is culturally different from much of Florida. It is much more southern in character, very different from most other metro areas in Florida.

I have no idea where or why DA found this defense team as the gentleman on the team is not much better.

I lived in South Florida for 20 years before moving to living now within an hour of Tallahassee in a small quaint rural town with it's own beauty of rolling pine tree farms, horse barns, 4-board fences and most of all good people. I go to Tallahassee often, it is a wonderful city offering anything you might want or need to rival those in South Florida.

Also keep in mind that Tallahassee is the capital of one of the most successful and thriving states in the country so contrary to what you have inferred here, we are not a bunch of country bumpkins. There is corruption here just like in the 'metro areas' of sleazy South Florida. There is also generational wealth here as opposed to the 'nouveau rich' like the As who have recently acquired wealth and are boring and tacky.

These good ol' boys and girls on the jury will see right through any BS no matter where it comes from.

 

[rescuemom]

I believe the bitterness was because WA wouldn't talk to her mom. DA lamented (in a phone call) that Wendi wouldn't talk to her anymore and now that the kids were older Wendi didn't need Donna to babysit anymore.

It sounds like Wendi created a protective fortress around herself and ditched her mom in the end.

Tree...apple

 

[Knitpicker]

It's interesting that the prosecution didn't put Ruth or Phil (Markel) on the stand. I'm sure they have quite a bit to say about Donna's character, but maybe too scorned and biased. They could just speak to the facts (she influenced Wendi to keep us away from our grandchildren for two years...IDK, I'm just speculating). Can you imagine the controlled conversation you'd have to have with your own grandchildren regarding your son and their father? You'd have to be very skilled at compartmentalizing. I'm sure the boys have many questions (now that they are older). Such a shame.

Rob was powerful and unexpected. Closer to home.
Ruth may not have wanted to do that. To protect the boys and any future relationship with them.
She’s a class act. According to FF she has something big in the works.
And according to Joel she was sitting with producers at lunch.
Maybe why she was out of the courtroom a couple of days?
Also I heard she was working on a second book.
Maybe a movie deal? It will all come out in the wash (no pun intended)

 

[Knitpicker]

How about that moment when Sanford was on the stand and Georgia accidentally played someone calling Harvey?
Was that a true error or is that a hint of something to come?
Did you see the look on Sanfords face?

 

[Missyrocks5]

Amazing case that the dynamic duo put on. Friday was the crescendo. Barring something nefarious occurring from the defense , the case is overwhelming. Also, they ended up introducing the pertinent points of Charlie's defense, including Donna texting all of her friends and WA- the truth is finally come out! That boxed her into having to go with that defense.

Yet in the opening they talked about asking if your kids ever lied to you, I think that she is going with- I believed Charlie was being extorted, but now it may not be true. I think she is still going to say that she just did everything he told her because she believed him, but she was never part of the conspiracy and didn't sanction the hit.

It really is not a bad strategy considering they have no good arguments. There is no explanation for all of this evidence against her. I'm not sure which Attorney could pull a rabbit out of a hat on this one. These locals are probably better for the local jury than Rashy.

Donna looks like she knows. As soon as this jury comes back, they need to arrest Wendi. Her trial would be years away, and they need to preserve this prosecution and these witnesses to go up against her attorney. I saw some posts here about that text right after Charlie was convicted. I think she was livid at W. It seems like a lifelong pattern of poor W complaining, and the whole family jumping in to help solve it. Donna was livid that, after they found out that her attorney did not tell W not to speak to them, still Wendi was staying away after CA kept his mouth shut and was now going to be in jail for life for helping her. Donna raised her kids, and she is probably not far off in saying that she considers the grandkids her kids because she really did raise them. From all of those taps, it sounded like Wendi was hardly ever home or with them. She probably had kids just to make her mother happy.

Go get Wendi after trial. I always say, we don't even know half of what they have on her now that they have Donna's phone and so much more.

 

[Missyrocks5]

I also think in looking at her, that these past two years, have done nothing to change her arrogance, defiance and feeling of superiority. I love that her continued meddling continues to get her in trouble. If there wasn't already a ton of evidence against her, I think the jury will despise her even more for horrifically trying to entice a woman struggling for her life because of her addiction into getting more pills. I am sure that her jail daughter realized she is using her.

The As would never deign to have anything to do with these people. To me, she looks really annoyed every day, not just with the testimony, but that she even has to sit there to listen to any of it. I don't think that the defense is going to put her on the stand. She is so unlikable and there is no way for her to talk her way out of it. Their best argument is to argue whatever for her and then say that the state has not met their burden. She is just going to further dig her own grave.

 

[squareandrabbet]

And she was late to court and held it up today bc she took a sleeping pill the night before. Wow.

To be fair, this would be me!... which is why I almost never take sleeping pills. I sleep like a rock anyway!!... add in a prescription or even a Tylenol PM, you won't see me until 4 in the afternoon.

 

[rescuemom]

I also think in looking at her, that these past two years, have done nothing to change her arrogance, defiance and feeling of superiority. I love that her continued meddling continues to get her in trouble. If there wasn't already a ton of evidence against her, I think the jury will despise her even more for horrifically trying to entice a woman struggling for her life because of her addiction into getting more pills. I am sure that her jail daughter realized she is using her.

The As would never deign to have anything to do with these people. To me, she looks really annoyed every day, not just with the testimony, but that she even has to sit there to listen to any of it. I don't think that the defense is going to put her on the stand. She is so unlikable and there is no way for her to talk her way out of it. Their best argument is to argue whatever for her and then say that the state has not met their burden. She is just going to further dig her own grave.

IF her defense team discourages her from testifying--- it's just another audience for her and she would love to perform for them -- could that be an appealable issue???

 

[CLGM]

I also think in looking at her, that these past two years, have done nothing to change her arrogance, defiance and feeling of superiority. I love that her continued meddling continues to get her in trouble. If there wasn't already a ton of evidence against her, I think the jury will despise her even more for horrifically trying to entice a woman struggling for her life because of her addiction into getting more pills. I am sure that her jail daughter realized she is using her.

100%. I felt sad for the second inmate who probably in some way welcomed some maternal affection. Plus one of the things she said that she was hoping to get out of testifying was treatment -- maybe she was just saying that as something she knew would go over well, but it sounded sincere.

The As would never deign to have anything to do with these people. To me, she looks really annoyed every day, not just with the testimony, but that she even has to sit there to listen to any of it. I don't think that the defense is going to put her on the stand. She is so unlikable and there is no way for her to talk her way out of it. Their best argument is to argue whatever for her and then say that the state has not met their burden. She is just going to further dig her own grave.

I agree that she is coming off as unlikeable.

 

[Missyrocks5]

IF her defense team discourages her from testifying--- it's just another audience for her and she would love to perform for them -- could that be an appealable issue???

Good question. First, let me say, I think unfortunately both Donna and Charlie have issues to appeal because of that conflict that they created. I still would love to hear what an appellate attorney has to say on that issue. I know on the one hand, they could not keep her from Having an attorney of her choice, but on the other hand, so that she and Charlie could have conversations that could not be recorded due to Attorney privilege, they chose to have the same Attorney creating this conflict.

I truly hope that cheating, conniving family doesn't benefit from a conflict that they created and that the state has to try that again. I don't think that the Attorney, in this situation, can tell her not to testify. She absolutely has the right to do so. But I can't imagine that is not a conversation that every defendant has with their attorney across the country. I can't imagine that the law would prohibit an attorney having a realistic conversation with their client of the pros and cons of taking the stand. But they couldn't tell them not to testify.

Hopefully, an appellate or defense attorney can shed some light on the difference.

 

[Missyrocks5]

100%. I felt sad for the second inmate who probably in some way welcomed some maternal affection. Plus one of the things she said that she was hoping to get out of testifying was treatment -- maybe she was just saying that as something she knew would go over well, but it sounded sincere.


I agree that she is coming off as unlikeable.

Absolutely. I felt bad for both inmates, but I think everyone particularly felt bad for the second one. She is clearly an intelligent woman and probably capable of doing so much if she did not have that problem. I am sure she came off completely sympathetic to that jury, particularly knowing her struggles to stay clean and that wicked witch trying to entice her feeding her addiction. You can bet that there were at least several people on the jury who, whether it was from their own struggles or knew someone who struggled, and probably despise her even more.

 

[Missyrocks5]

IF her defense team discourages her from testifying--- it's just another audience for her and she would love to perform for them -- could that be an appealable issue???

Oops. I think I answered both in one and didn't quote yours. I would love to hear an attorney who specializes in this Answer. I don't think a defense attorney can tell his client do not testify, but I also can't imagine an attorney telling her it would be a good idea if she got up on the stand rather than just arguing that the state did not meet their burden with whatever smoke and mirrors they want to put up.

 

[CaptRenault]

Keep in mind that Tallahassee is culturally different from much of Florida. It is much more southern in character, very different from most other metro areas in Florida.

I have no idea where or why DA found this defense team as the gentleman on the team is not much better.

I lived in South Florida for 20 years before moving to living now within an hour of Tallahassee in a small quaint rural town with it's own beauty of rolling pine tree farms, horse barns, 4-board fences and most of all good people. I go to Tallahassee often, it is a wonderful city offering anything you might want or need to rival those in South Florida.

Also keep in mind that Tallahassee is the capital of one of the most successful and thriving states in the country so contrary to what you have inferred here, we are not a bunch of country bumpkins. There is corruption here just like in the 'metro areas' of sleazy South Florida. There is also generational wealth here as opposed to the 'nouveau rich' like the As who have recently acquired wealth and are boring and tacky.

These good ol' boys and girls on the jury will see right through any BS no matter where it comes from.

I"m sure Tallahassee and the surrounding area are nice places to live, but I stand by my observation that Tallahassee is culturally different from Miami in a significant way. To say so is not to disparage the locals as "country bumpkins"-I didn't say that or imply that.

Though speaking of country bumpkins, that's exactly how Jackie Fulford comes across and it is precisely why many people are questioning the Adelsons' choice of Jackie as Donna's attorney. Anyway, whatever their reasoning was, it's not working.

 

[Knitpicker]

Keep in mind that Tallahassee is culturally different from much of Florida. It is much more southern in character, very different from most other metro areas in Florida.

I have no idea where or why DA found this defense team as the gentleman on the team is not much better.

I lived in South Florida for 20 years before moving to living now within an hour of Tallahassee in a small quaint rural town with it's own beauty of rolling pine tree farms, horse barns, 4-board fences and most of all good people. I go to Tallahassee often, it is a wonderful city offering anything you might want or need to rival those in South Florida.

Also keep in mind that Tallahassee is the capital of one of the most successful and thriving states in the country so contrary to what you have inferred here, we are not a bunch of country bumpkins. There is corruption here just like in the 'metro areas' of sleazy South Florida. There is also generational wealth here as opposed to the 'nouveau rich' like the As who have recently acquired wealth and are boring and tacky.

These good ol' boys and girls on the jury will see right through any BS no matter where it comes from.

Donna and Harvey are from NYC boroughs. Lived very close to Manhattan. Harvey went to school at Stuyvesant in Manhattan and commuted from Brooklyn. Donna lived in Queens. So they are metropolitan people.
Going from NYC to even S Florida is a culture shock for New Yorkers.
Tallahassee is very suburban. I understand the Whole Foods wasn’t built until around 2013. When you are used to a metropolitan upbringing, Tallahassee would be very rural to you.

 

[Knitpicker]

I"m sure Tallahassee and the surrounding area are nice places to live, but I stand by my observation that Tallahassee is culturally different from Miami in a significant way. To say so is not to disparage the locals as "country bumpkins"-I didn't say that or imply that.

Though speaking of country bumpkins, that's exactly how Jackie Fulford comes across and it is precisely why many people are questioning the Adelsons' choice of Jackie as Donna's attorney. Anyway, whatever their reasoning was, it's not working.

Not really anything you couldn’t find on line (with a google search of her name —the Supreme Court 2015 …A bit stretched out but good for anyone who hasn’t checked her out.

 

[ShadyLady]

Wow, rewatching all of Wendi's testimonies. Completely different on some issues. Especially the lunch on the day of Dan's death. Surely, she could remember THAT.

Impromptu lunch, then a prewedding celebration for friends where she was asked to bring bottle of booze. Bullet bourbon. BUT, she never gave the bottle to her friends, and it stayed in the car!

Just wow....plenty of lies to nullify immunity, IMO.

 

[IQuestion]

Not really sure what you are getting at.
1. The case against DA is circumstantial, So what? The inference from your post is if evidence is circumstantial then it's unimportant and relevance is insignificant. Circumstantial evidence (CE) is directly in proportion to volume. i.e 2 pieces of CE are meaningless, 20 pieces are significant. In Donna's case there must be over 60 pieces of CE.

2.DA had a pathological obsession with WA and the boys moving to Miami.

3. The State can easily prove there was no extortion and DA knew there was no extortion.

Re HA and WA's simultaneous arrest, IMO it makes sense. They are ready to get WA now and HA is a flight/unalive risk. Once DA is convicted and WA arrested, HA will unalive himself.

ZZ Your posts are full of common sense and powerful. I agree with 1, 2 and 3 above. However, HA will stay in good health, visit his wife, fund her commissary... self harm is never an option.... then or now. It was just DA's way-over-the-top aka Histrionic Personality Disorder, HPD "act" to get HA to go along with her plan to flee. She is an incredible manipulator.
As for HA, I give no quarter : In reference to LE, "It makes sense. It really does. I didn't think they were that smart." And, what to do about the bump/unknown agent they thought was extorting them for 5K. It's on a recording, and I remember it stopped me in my tracks....HA calmly asks, "Do you want me to take care of it?"
(If someone can find, link or post part of the transcript on the last part, I'd appreciate it.) HA doesn't seem like an overly dramatic hot head. No way. He is as cool, too cool for what is swirling around his family, career and public suspicion. IMO...He is a strategic thinker

 

[LinasK]

IF her defense team discourages her from testifying--- it's just another audience for her and she would love to perform for them -- could that be an appealable issue???

Not really, the defendant always has the right to testify if they want to, even if their defense team advises against it. She could try to say it's Ineffectiveness of Counsel, but doubt she would succeed. The client always has the final say in testifying.