Donna Adelson Trial Preview — Defense & Prosecution Tactics
The trial of Donna Adelson — matriarch of the family linked to the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel — is about to begin, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most dramatic courtroom battles of the year. In this
Hidden Killers special, Tony Brueski and defense attorney/former prosecutor Eric Faddis combine two hard-hitting conversations to examine both sides of the legal fight: Donna’s startling consideration of testifying in her own defense, and the prosecution’s likely strategy to convict her.
First, we explore why Donna might be willing to take the stand — a move most defendants in major murder trials avoid. Is it a bluff? A calculated attempt to control the narrative? Or simply Donna’s belief that she can persuade a jury better than anyone else? Eric explains the legal risks, how the defense might try to limit her exposure on cross-examination, and what the prosecution will be ready to hit her with — from financial records to coded phone calls to her one-way ticket to Vietnam.
Then, we shift to the state’s playbook. With three co-conspirators already convicted, prosecutors will likely lean heavily on the money trail to Katherine Magbanua, Donna’s deep involvement in the custody dispute with Markel, and the infamous $1 million “relocation offer.” We discuss how the state will frame motive, means, and opportunity, and how the defense might counter by portraying Donna as an over-involved grandmother rather than a mastermind.
#DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #EricFaddis #TrialStrategy #ProsecutionPlan #WitnessStand #FloridaCrime #MurderTrial
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