A last-minute hearing in connection with the murder case against Donna Adelson took place Monday in Florida, involving the testimony of her daughter.
Adelson is scheduled to face Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett in Tallahassee on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation connected to the 2014 assassination of Dan Markel.
Dan was the former husband of Wendi Adelson, who is Donna Adelson’s daughter.
Donna Adelson’s legal team wanted to have Wendi testify during her mother’s trial. However, her attorney, John Lauro, submitted a motion on August 13, indicating that she would exercise her Fifth Amendment rights, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Everett ruled Monday in favor of Wendi Adelson’s request.
“I am going to grant the relief that is requested,” Everett said Monday, according to WCTV.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police found Markel, a Florida State University law professor, shot in his Tallahassee garage on July 18, 2014.
In relation to the case, Donna’s son, Charlie Adelson, as well as his former girlfriend Katherine Magbanua and hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera have been found guilty.
Police arrested Donna Adelson in November 2023, right before her reported attempt to escape the US.
“I wasn’t afraid of being arrested,” she previously told the court.
“My husband and I were absolutely shocked and deeply upset by what happened to Charlie, and he said, ‘We just need some peace, we need to take a breath, and we’re planning to go away for a while.’”
While at Miami International Airport, Donna Adelson was detained by police when she and her husband, Harvey, tried to board a flight to Vietnam through Dubai—two places lacking extradition agreements with the United States.
Jury selection in the murder trial begins Tuesday.
[Feature Photo: Dan Markel/FSU College of Law faculty biographies; Donna Adelson/AP]
