Charlie Adelson
Trial of Charles "Charlie" Adelson, accused of being the middleman who recruited Katherine Magbanua and paid the hitmen in the 2014 murder-for-hire of Dan Markel.
Charges (3)
October 2023
Jurors heard opening statements, scene and medical testimony, investigative evidence about a Prius and payments, and testimony from Wendi Adelson.
Wendi Adelson completed her testimony, Jeffrey Lacasse returned to testify about disputed statements, and Luis Rivera described the killing.
Katherine Magbanua testified about the alleged plot and her prior false testimony as the State presented office, financial, dinner-text, and historical phone-record evidence.
Testimony addressed phone-record limits, undercover contacts, restaurant recordings, and the court's instructions on audio transcripts.
November 2023
Sanford completed his testimony and the State rested. The court denied the defense motion for judgment of acquittal, the defense called former divorce attorney Kristin Adamson, and Charlie Adelson said he would testify.
Charlie Adelson denied involvement in Markel's killing and described payments and later calls as responses to claimed extortion; the court made several text-message and hearsay rulings.
Charlie Adelson completed his testimony, the defense rested, and the court finalized jury instructions and verdict forms for the three charged counts.
Final instructions and closing arguments preceded guilty verdicts on all three charged counts. The court remanded Charles Adelson pending sentencing and ordered a presentence investigation.