Dan Markel murder: Charlie Adelson Trial - Day 5

GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE: The Tallahassee Democrat will livestream each day of the trial of Charlie Adelson from the courthouse in Tallahassee. Watch on Tallahassee.com and the Tallahassee Democrat's Facebook andKZbin pages. For best viewing experience: Download the Tallahassee Democrat app to watch and receive text alerts on when to watch - from opening arguments to the verdict.

[@user-ct2wx6ir7d]

Thank you for airing this trial Tallahassee Democrat.

[@deanbritt9131]

The irony of her not wanting to live in Tallahassee and now her brother and probably her mother will be there for life. THE IRONY WONT BE LOSTON HER

[@NancyClue932]

Love this comment! I also love the irony that for all of their extraordinarily elite education, none of them studied Shakespeare. Lol ! They truly created an epic family story of Shakespearean proportions! Tomorrow’s testimony will be amazing to watch. They’re gonna hate Charlie.

[@Lady_Scorpion9900]

Best comment ever👌

[@nottthereyet4872]

That's wild. Profound. Justice.

[@duketoofor3098]

Same irony as Scott Peterson … drowned his wife in the bay across from san Quentin prison, then once convicted, ended up in that same prison for his life.

[@deanbritt9131]

@@NancyClue932 when is the mother getting on the stand ??? Is that what your talking about

[@paulissus8974]

“Hey mom, dad it’s Charlie here I was wondering if either or both of you could make the effort of coming up to the Tallahassee courthouse and give me a little moral support I’ve yet to see either of you in the public gallery since this thing started”

[@Jacksgarage80]

My guess is that they legally can’t be in the gallery. They are probably under subpoena or court restrictions. Especially as they are considered co-conspirators - listening to All the evidence could give them some kind of advantage if or when they go to trial.

[@user-ct2wx6ir7d]

I was thinking that, too but maybe Jacksgarage is correct as to why they may not be. You couldn't stop me from supporting my child in court unless I was precluded from appearing but even so, I wonder if Donna would have shown up. She's all about "appearances" and judging from her reaction to his prison phone call when he told her, he'd rather have cancer than be where he's wound up, she didn't want to go there because she doesn't want to (literally) go there!

[@TwanDeezy]

Psychological take on Charlie: I think on some level, being a professional dentist emboldened Charlie. I think his ultimate decison to kill was influenced by a number of factors, his ego being the biggest. Part of him strongly underestimated that his family would seriously be considered as suspects because of the family dental practice. He thought that nobody would ever suspect him of being capable of a murder, and especially if he only conspired it and paid for it. Part of this was fueled by alcohol and cocaine, I would bet that he had a pretty strong habit. He was constantly talking, constantly working, always repeating himself, etc. He seemed to make a ton of money in his dental practice and was easily able to afford it. He felt like there was status to its use. One part of him wanted to be a tough guy of sorts, or otherwise found a criminal lifestyle appealing or glamorous. He liked the idea of hiding in plain sight, by being a professional dentist and upstanding in public but having a private dark side. In the moments that he felt like he was unlikely to be caught or charged, he reveled in his capability to pull it off. It made him feel sort of like a gangster. He justified the act by demeaning the victim as though Markel was some terrible guy. Part of him was controlled by his mother, he seemed to have a relationship with her that both him and his mother considered special. His mother and him discussed things intimately. Most people do not discuss the planning of a murder with their mother. In the relationship between Charlie and Donna, nothing was off limits.

[@nottthereyet4872]

The love of risk and living on the edge is part of the high. Believing that you are untouchable is just the brink of destruction.

[@TwanDeezy]

@@nottthereyet4872 Right, and I imagine he fantasized quite a bit about power and status, probably told a lot of stories/embellished most everything to make himself appear tough, or more criminally adept, and probably enjoyed to some extent the knowing that he was capable of commiting such an act. I imagine a part of him even enjoyed his reputation and being the kind of person that was capable of murder.

[@markminister2599]

Great analysis. Charlie is a killer. He never had any good values. His sisters divorce gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his values. His thinking and his action will put him in prison for life.

[@9207dl]

In the hot tub date with Jeff and Wendi he admitted to sex w young females in some foreign country. He truly is disgusting. Wendi too for listening.....Jeff was appalled.

[@overwhamming]

Bro thinks he's living in a Breaking Bad episode

[@Amy-zs8tx]

Charlie totally used Katherine ~ I think he wanted to see how loyal she was to him & he knew her ex was a “bad guy” who needed money. The Adelson family are bad news!!

[@suzymoroka297]

He definitely used Katie, she was in love with the lifestyle Adelsons could give her and Charlie was just stringing her along. In his testimony, Charlie is now throwing her under the bus, drove the bus over her and reversed over her for good measure. I heard testimony that not long after the murder, Charles ghosted Katie. She was more into him than he was into her. Tragic really cos now her kids will grow up with both parents incarcerated

[@dianelaner5114]

@@suzymoroka297 Also he asked her if she knew someone that could hurt someone else in October 2013, around the same time they started dating. Who does that? Pieces of the puzzle someone said

[@Joseph-fw6xx]

She could of said no

[@carolynyanik2197]

@@suzymoroka297 Yes, Katie was from the other side of the tracks, had 2 kids, and was too old for him. Katie was a throw away woman for Charlie.

[@markminister2599]

Do you think Charlie Adelson is thinking, “I am such a good looking m*rderer”

[@Joseph-fw6xx]

This judge takes a lot of breaks but who could blame him after listening to this BS every hour every day

[@ahava3838]

The defense lawyer looks like Steve Carell.

[@9207dl]

YES!!! I sometimes laugh because the defense lawyer is just plain comical.......like he can't be serious? Just like Steve Carell.

[@ThatsMyBlackOpinion]

3 min in, and they're talking about a dental infection. What was the point of the first call??

[@bbrcummins1984]

To show that Charlie and Katie were buddy's

[@kennytesta9312]

@@bbrcummins1984exactly

[@markbrown1609]

i have lived in Miami and Tallahassee. As far as raising a family, it's a no-brainer. Tallahassee wins. If you're a young single person living in a small one-bedroom apartment making good coin and enjoying clubbing and the beach.. Miami

[@joycemarie9702]

It’s amazing how Wendi’s divorce attorney testified that she and Wendi weren’t worried about anything ….nothing bothered Wendi and that they felt that Dan would not win. Yet Wendi whined, cried and basically hysterical talking with her family concerning the motions Dan filed. Wendi made sure that Dan would never have the opportunity to speak in court! Lies lies and more lies!

[@CBMcDI]

Exactly! Are his filings terrifying you, or does no one take them seriously, Wendi? It can't be both! She's horrible.

[@bbrcummins1984]

Rashbaum belongs in traffic court.

[@Robert-mo2zn]

He can’t control his blinking. Guilty guilty guilty

[@deanbritt9131]

Please tell me the mother will be questioned?

[@DAdelson]

Hope not

[@leeprimeau7912]

She is on the list of people who are supposed to testify.

[@deanbritt9131]

@@leeprimeau7912 can’t wait for that one

[@dorothyabdul9657]

No mom and dad plead the fifth!

[@dbrjejdk3847]

Wondering if she'll take the stand in September

[@robertotorino8862]

1:50:54 return from lunch, i bet charlie got no lobster brisk for lunch or fresh prawn cocktail, just tuna bread with tuna out of date slop is prison food especially during suicidal trials

[@seanjean9677]

The reason for bringing Wendi’s lawyer is what lol? To say Dan was so awful that Charlie was justified in hiring a hit man

[@glitter7777]

They were trying to say nobody was worried about these motions or grandma getting supervised visitation so they had not reason to kill Dan.

[@lstu]

Is Charlie maniac. Mentally speaking.

[@dianelaner5114]

I'm not a professional, but I recognize NPD with high ASPD when I see it. Like 70% of Ted Bundy's level to throw a number

[@bekind4742]

This is more than likely the only time Charlie has not continued to ramble

[@Gaiartemis]

I feel sorry for DR. He is spinning like a boat with no driver on a lake. Nothing makes sense. Bad facts. Bad client

[@American_Grrl]

Chuck looks more worried today

[@patrinajasso5689]

Why was the grandmother picking up the kids?. Dam does anyone raise their own kifs anymore?. Ur parents raised u and now they are in their retirment years and they should be traveling but they have to help with ur kids when wendie was an attorney and had lots of money to pay for day care or raise her ow n kids. Whe u get ur parents involved in ur marriage of course there going to side with their kids. Keep ur marriage between u and ur husband or look what happened here 2 involved.

[@annaandre9131]

Most grandparents are not cold blooded murderers though 😊

[@vickifallon741]

Why are there no law enforcement officers right there by Charlie? Why is he not cuffed and led out of the courtroom as soon as there is a dismissal?

[@lstu]

Donna is next on the list please. She knows all.

[@pse888]

there is no proof she does. I watched her prelim interview. Her tears were real. You're simply a wannabee armchair judge who doesn't care there is zero proof she was involved.

[@jameslomenzo1139]

Donna was arrested, she's sitting in the Tallahassee jail right now 😂​@pse888

[@JacqMarchetti]

@@pse888Well, looks like you were wrong since she is currently sitting in jail. BTW, there is plenty of evidence against her.

[@bbrcummins1984]

​@@pse888I think you're talking about Wendi

[@Anniek62]

Who looks after Katie's kids while she hangs out with Charlie. Being a mom of 2 kids plus holding a job is a lot. She has so much time...

[@lstu]

Are Charlie’s parents in the courtroom?

[@dianelaner5114]

Nope. But they may be on the live chat I guess LOL

[@bbrcummins1984]

Their at home eating Xanax

[@surpriseimblack]

1:28:00 I'm sorry but that was the weakest and most feckless JOA argument I've ever HEARD! And I like that attorney it's just that she is somewhat of a shrinking violet.. I wish she had more involvement in the case.. But yeah she had no teeth behind that JOA motion... I know they are often just a formality but if you make a good argument it's on the record forever ♾️🤷🏾‍♀️

[@raindogs451]

I hate it every time I’m convicted of murder. I’ll tell you, if the prosecution ever dangles a carrot for Wendi, it will test him.

[@MsSexyDiva4Lyfe]

1:06:31 lol @ Charlies lawyer trying to ask the FBI about Charlie getting extorted.

[@stevefromsaskatoon830]

Omg , it just hit me 😮...... Charlie is innocent, because we don't have free will Probably a better argument than what him and his attorney came up with

[@catbird2234]

what a narcissist..everyone wants him to adopt them! Lol

[@godsplan2740]

Does anyone know Robert is testifying? His brother?

[@DAdelson]

No. The state rested its case today.

[@alliehunter9896]

FBI shouldve had people planted in areas by the pool to record them..they really need to have long range audio/video recorders.

[@PatrickPutin-yy8ju]

They have long range video & audio. Or better said. We have the technology. In fact either FLIR, you can see the heat signatures inside a house from the street

[@fishgills5317]

how any woman would want to be with Charlie is beyond me

[@user-mh3lv4kh8q]

Charlie wants his moneyback. Rash is just bad.😮😮

[@edbregin2180]

The blonde defense attorney is a sleeper hotty.

[@jasonfallon4968]

Baby blue. 😉

[@MsSexyDiva4Lyfe]

Katie was really running her mouth on the wire taps! Sigfreido is a real one tho. He did it, got paid and didn't snitch. What an honorable criminal!

[@barbiekat6352]

I’m not a fan of this judge’s sense of levity during certain periods of the trial. Just because, as the judge… he can inject his own brand of humor doesn’t mean he should! This is ALL serious as a heart attack… every moment!

[@Mariettasss]

I agree. So off putting and unprofessional

[@dianelaner5114]

I guess some judges do that to avoid falling asleep, that will look even worse. Most trials aren't as lively as this one.

[@barbiekat6352]

@@dianelaner5114 Neither should happen. Falling asleep isn’t acceptable either…

[@suzymoroka297]

🙄🤦🏽‍♀️ oh please!

[@barbiekat6352]

@@suzymoroka297 What? 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️Not “cool” to mention concerns of unprofessional behavior? Well, in addition, it’s not appropriate for this judge to be poking fun at the defense attorney either. Especially in the disproportionately way he is doing it. In fact, I can see it being grounds for appeal due to his doing this can influence the jurors own perceptions regarding the value and weight of the attorney’s arguments and presentations. The judge sets the tone of the courtroom!

[@amsterdame]

that FBI agent keeps making nasty sounds with his mouth. UGH. had to skip over him

[@edbregin2180]

The prosecution is pretty crooked.

[@hittheheadlines2942]

Innocence In A Nutshell What a nightmare for Katie - The Undercover drops her name, Charlie unwittingly pulls her into his mess and the FBI mistake concern for her friend's family with complicity in a murder - Nightmare! In the wiretaps Katie tells us she wasn't involved: ¨I don't know the rest of whatever it is, or if my name is really on anything, or if they're even talking about me ...¨ ¨... and I don't know if it's me they're really talking about¨ ¨ ... and I really feel bad if they're not even talking about me" You can throw every other piece of evidence for and against her in the trash. If she doesn't know if The Undercover is talking about her, she isn't involved And you hammer this point home to the jury in closing: "Deliberation should only take you five minutes because there is only one question to ask yourselves: "Why does she not know?" But surely it's not that simple!? Yeah! it is! The FBI planned The Bump meticulously. Its first goal was to make sure that anyone involved knew The Bump was about the murder. And Katie doesn't know The FBI asked the question, set up The Bump and wiretaps, then totally ignored the answer - truly unbelievable! Katie not knowing acquits her outright, just as DNA evidence has done in other cases Katie talks to Sigfredo: "I don't feel secure because you take care of everybody else. Where's my security Tuto? When are you going to step up for me? ... ... because I feel like everybody else gets the special attention. And then Katie you go figure it out, you go figure out the kids, you figure out life, you figure out your apartment" In Katie's eyes this is not Sigfredo's problem. Why? Because she wasn't involved! She has no idea her two 'boyfriends' have conspired to kill someone. She is oblivious Look at it from Katie's perspective: random strangers extorting money from Charlie's family, possibly using her name to do it. That's terrifying for her. She tells us exactly why she wants Sigfredo's support: "Look, can you do me this favour? Because it's like, I'm not a guy and I don't know if it's me they're talking about" Do we listen to her? Not a chance! We fall into the trap of assuming she's talking to Sigfredo as a co-conspirator. That's inexcusable She tells us why she is helping Charlie: "Look, you gotta understand, like someone doing this to my mum, someone doing this to your mum" "But the mere fact that I don't like anybody disrespecting your family, scaring your family ..." "I'm trying to get whoever's threatening your family, and helping you guys out" Unfortunately, like complete idiots, we ignore her. We refuse to believe the truth staring us in the face Katie simply can't understand why anyone would be using her name to extort money from Charlie's family: "Why am I being thrown into something?" "... imagine, like, look at this, I'm picking up somebody else's, you know" You would think these two sentences alone would be enough to rubber stamp her innocence. Alas, we choose to remain ignorant Katie continues with super clues for us: "For all you know, it's a patient. Maybe they've seen me in the dental office in the beach before" "Did you take his teeth out or what? ... Is he a patient? You run across so many people every day" If Katie is involved she knows it's not a patient! Evidence of innocence everywhere, and we continue to deny, deny, deny! Sigfredo to Katie: "... the less you know the better ..." Katie is alleged to be the "go-between" in this murder-for-hire. She would know a lot more than Sigfredo about everything. The above is something you say to someone who has no knowledge of the real situation and you want it to stay that way Charlie to Katie (Dolce Vita): "When everybody was there the next day, did any of you take any money? ..." This question must be taken in context. From murder to Bump Charlie wonders if Sigfredo tells Katie about the murder. But Charlie can never ask Katie because, in asking, he's admitting to murder, using the father of her children as his hitman After The Bump, all bets are off. The Undercover drops Katie's name, confirming to Charlie that Katie knows. Now he thinks he can talk to Katie semi-freely - she a witness to Sigfredo's involvement You start to see how insidious the name dropping is. It is everything in this case because it allows Charlie to use an innocent friend in his investigation of just who is behind The Bump Katie's innocence is established further when we compare the conflicting stories of Charlie and Luis regarding the day after. Charlie talks of people taking money, whereas Luis tells of Katie distributing money. Charlie's candid words to Katie decimate Luis' lies It's heartbreaking to see Katie in court being double teamed by the equally blind FBI and state attorneys. As Chris DeCoste, her attorney, so aptly described it: "They can't see it, they can't understand it, that she's innocent, she wasn't involved" They can't see because they don't wish to see. They had Katie pinned as guilty and tunnel vision crippled logical thought The only thing standing between Katie and freedom is state attorneys being humble enough to admit they missed crucial indicators to her innocence

[@ruppertale3319]

A jury rejected that interpretation, and she has admitted her role in the conspiracy to kill Dan Markel under oath.

[@lisahampton4115]

But she took the stand and admitted what she did, did she not?

[@deannmartinez4803]

Damn, I’m not reading all that😂

[@CommonLogic23]

She is 100% involved! Have you watched all the trials and her full testimony here. She admits being involved after Charlie asks if she knew anyone that could hurt someone.

[@leeprimeau7912]

Magbanua is NOT innocent. Don’t be delusional. If she had gone to the police the first time Charlie started talking about this murder, Dan Markel would probably be alive and watching his children grow up.

[@MsSexyDiva4Lyfe]

1:27:00 No they didn't ask for an acquital I guess they are just throwing anything at the damn wall!

[@loislane856]

He must of been pissed knowing her attention was on her son