Prison Justice
‘Can a killer seem like a granny?’ Prosecutor poses questions as mother-in-law of slain regulation prof goes on trial
August 22, 2025, 9:32 am CDT
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 in the course of 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)
Attorneys 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 Faculty of Legislation 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 might maintain an open thoughts.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported on Cappleman’s query in its dwell 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 fees for hiring hit males to kill Markel. He was convicted per 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.
Considered one 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 trade for favorable testimony whereas on the Leon County Courthouse, based on the Tallahassee Democrat. A earlier story is right here.
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