June Umchinda — Direct/Cross/Redirect
501 linesBAILIFF: All rise. Jury entering the courtroom.
JUDGE EVERETT: Everyone but the witness may be seated.
JUDGE EVERETT: Please raise your right hand, ma'am.
JUDGE EVERETT: Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may take your seat.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Hi, I'm June Umchinda.
JUNE UMCHINDA: It's J-U-N-E, first name; last name, U-M-C-H-I-N-D-A.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: You don't have to — I don't think you're gonna have to lean that close. Okay. Where do you live, ma'am?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I'm in South Florida.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Do you know Charlie Adelson?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Sorry, it was my alarm to come here — down here. Yeah. Okay, wait, let— let me just check if it's new. I'm so sorry.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: That's okay.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't want it to snooze.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. Do you know Charlie Adelson?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How do you know him?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He's my ex-boyfriend.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Do you see him here in the courtroom?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Could you please point him out and describe what he's wearing?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He's the middle one there with the navy blue suit on.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: May the record reflect the witness has identified the defendant.
JUDGE EVERETT: The record will reflect.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: When did you date Mr.— Adelson?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, we initially met in, um, I think it was like February or so.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And then — February of what year?
JUNE UMCHINDA: 2015.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay.
JUNE UMCHINDA: And we didn't, um, speak for about eight months. We just had like a brief meeting. And then in October, we officially started dating — October of 2015.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes. And how long did you date him for?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Roughly two and a half years, like, officially.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. Does June of 2017 sound like the end — correct end — of your relationship officially?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And did you continue to talk to Mr. Adelson after the breakup?
JUNE UMCHINDA: We did.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: When was the last time you spoke to Mr. Adelson?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, a day or so before his arrest. We were playing phone tag, and I was supposed to see him. We didn't see each other for a long time, but I was supposed to see him. I didn't get to, and then I wrote him back. I saw a message from him, and then the next day he was taken away.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. So when — that's obviously significantly after the official breakup.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, right. This was in April of last— 2022.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What was the nature of your relationship after the official breakup? Were you kind of on-again, off-again, or just casually seeing each other when you were both single, or what was the deal there?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, it was a lot of years that went by after our official relationship, so there were, like, different periods of times where we were seeing each other and then casual, but we always stayed in touch throughout the year, so—
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And do you still have feelings for Mr. Adelson as we sit here today?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, so he's my last serious boyfriend, so I would say yes, that — there's something still there. I care about him, but obviously I haven't seen him in God knows how long, so—
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And do you recall being interviewed by the Tallahassee Police Department in reference to this case on July 24th, 2018?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And back at that time when you were interviewed, it had been about two weeks since you had talked to him. Does that ring a bell?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Something like that, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And you had talked to him prior to that interview around your birthday, is that right? On the phone.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And when was your — when is your birthday?
JUNE UMCHINDA: June 28th.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So that was prior to — obviously prior to his arrest, but just a few months before the trial of Katherine Magbanua.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you talk to him then as well?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't recall when her trial was. I know she had a retrial, so I don't know the date specifically.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, but in one of those trials, didn't you testify that you had spoken to him just the night before that trial?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right. I mean, we were still talking, so yes, I did speak to him.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, so I'm just kind of trying to establish — in reference to the important dates of this case, you seem to have had some communication with him pretty close in time to those important dates. Would you agree with that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But you haven't had any contact with him in reference to what you're going to say here today?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No. Not since he got arrested, I haven't heard from him.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Were you dating him when what we're calling the bump occurred, back on April 19th of 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And are you familiar with what we mean when we say "the bump"?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Is that the money extortion thing from the — thing when Donna Adelson was approached by an undercover officer?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So how far into your relationship with him were you at the time that that occurred? And that's, again, April 19th of 2016.
JUNE UMCHINDA: About— A — a year, roughly, I would say.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But you began dating officially, well, from October, so that's not a year — it's more like six months.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What was the status of your relationship? Or can you kind of describe for us what your relationship was at that time, April of 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, sorry, I'm trying to think of the dates again. Um, so the bump was 2016, you said, in April?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes, ma'am. So this would be about six months into your relationship. Were you seeing each other seriously? Were you seeing a lot of each other? Tell us about—
JUNE UMCHINDA: Every day.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Every day. Okay. And have you previously described the relationship at that time as "a fairy tale" back then?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. Perfect.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes. Inseparable.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes. Okay, so the two of you were together quite a lot during that time frame.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes. Yeah, I basically lived there.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, and so you spent most of the time that you were together over at his place?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And is that the place on Whale Harbor?
JUNE UMCHINDA: It is.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And did the relationship change at some — let me, before we leave that — when the bump occurred on April 19, 2016, did he, Mr. Adelson, tell you about the bump?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. So at some point, did the relationship change around this time frame, April of 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I can't say exactly like when it changed, because we've had a lot of ups and downs. But, I mean, it did change, so I don't know when exactly it was.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. I want to draw your attention specifically to the time frame between April and May of 2016. Are you able to tell the jury about some changes you observed in Mr. Adelson's behavior during that time frame?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I — don't know like if it was in that time frame exactly.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. Do you recall giving a law enforcement interview in this case?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And that was done on July 24th of 2018?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Would your memory have been better back then on these issues as far as the dates that things happened?
JUNE UMCHINDA: It doesn't say what date. Like, they didn't ask me specifically when, how he was acting when. So I don't know exactly what they meant — like how he was acting, what time.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So you didn't tell them that he began to freak out around that time and act sneaky and go places without telling you where?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I said that. I just don't know at that specific time frame if that was referring to that. Like right now, I really have no idea right now.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. At some point, did a reporter approach you in Mr. Adelson's driveway?
JUNE UMCHINDA: They did.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And was that the first that you learned about this murder?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes? So Mr. Adelson had never even told you during your serious relationship with him that his brother-in-law had been murdered?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He mentioned that he'd been murdered, but there were no details. It was just — he said, we don't know who did it, and this would happen, so.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So do you know when this reporter approached you?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Like what time, or when?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Was it approximately around June 17th of 2016? Does that sound right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: It was right after — like, I think a political holiday, because I had a Band-Aid on my arm from a burn that we went to at a barbecue, and it was embarrassing that they took a photo of me with it. So I remember that — that I still have that Band-Aid on my arm. So it might have been around May or something. Maybe Memorial Day.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Are we sure it was in 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Well, there's a picture the reporter has on the internet, so whenever that article came out, it would be then.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, so there's the Band-Aid on my arm, as you can see.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And what is the date of that article?
JUNE UMCHINDA: That says June 17th.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So when is Memorial Day — May?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What is the year on the article?
JUNE UMCHINDA: 2016.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So can we agree it was approximately in June of 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: That you got approached — um, I believe it was May, but I think they published the article in June. But yes, around June. May, June.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I thought — I thought the reporter had the article with them when they approached you. Is that not the case?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No. You mean — I mean, the photo. Like, he made that article and posted it, like, from the story. Yeah, from, I guess, our candid shot or whatever.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. So maybe you were approached in May, and then the article came out in June.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe that's correct, yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And that was — when that reporter approached you, that was when you found out that there was this whole backstory to this murder that may involve Charlie Adelson.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I actually didn't find out at that moment. They, like, ran up to me asking if I'm Katherine, and I had no idea who that was.
JUNE UMCHINDA: So I didn't even know who they were.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How come you didn't know who Katherine Magbanua was? Not at all?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. So is that the first — did you eventually find out who she was after you learned that name from the reporter?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, eventually.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Who was she?
JUNE UMCHINDA: She was, um, Charlie's ex-girlfriend, and she also worked for another friend of mine at their front desk.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And who's that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, Jerry Obed.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And what was she working for Jerry Obed at the time that you learned about her, I guess?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Learned of her existence?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, no. So I guess I met her in the front of Jerry's place once briefly, and then when I heard of her, my mind went back to that day, but I had no idea, like, her name or anything back then.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. So you were confused in May of 2016 for her by a reporter.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And then you learned, oh, she was an ex-girlfriend of Charlie Adelson, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Eventually, yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And then subsequent to that, you realized, oh, that's the girl that used to work for Jerry Obed.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, I'm with you. All right. Once you found out about this sort of backstory to this homicide and investigation, did the defendant, Mr. Adelson, tell you anything about how to handle the police if you were to be approached by the police?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He said if anyone came knocking on the door asking questions, "I don't know anything." And at that time, I really didn't know anything still.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So he told you not to talk to the police, right? Because — I think he had to go away that weekend or week and I was at the house by myself. So, and had he been acting strangely for weeks before that article was published? And again, that article was published June 17, 2016.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe so.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Tell us what acting strangely means.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think I said it in my interview that he would kind of run off to places without really giving me an explanation. We kind of had a routine going. We would work, go to the gym, and then every night usually see each other at a certain time. But it was getting to the point where, like, he was running late or things were happening and I didn't really know the reason. And also, I think he was — he just, I just felt like something was different in our relationship.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And did you notice that he had begun communicating with Katherine Magbanua around that time?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Around — sorry, the time?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Which — the two weeks prior to the publication of that article, which was published on June 17th, 2016.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Two weeks before that.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I can't remember exactly when I found out about Katherine Magbanua.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Like, I know it was after May.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So if it was in that two-week period before the article came out, then did you say in your interview with law enforcement that in that time frame you saw him going back and forth with Katie on the calls, like — "and I said, oh, why do you guys talk so much?" And also you were commenting about the calls being at odd hours and how, you know, he's not normally up that early, and that's when you saw the call activity on his phone. Do you remember telling law enforcement that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, I remember saying I saw her name come up or something at some point in time. Again, I don't know if that is the same time — around that time. And also, the odd hours thing, I was referring to another girl, I think, that lives in Philippines.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, I'm going to draw your attention to page 72. I don't have a binder. I'm going to bring you one.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page 72, lines 7 through 22 on your interview.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: If you'll read to yourself, lines 7 through 22.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Okay.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So let me ask a question. Do you — are you still maintaining you're referencing another woman in that comment, or were you talking about Katherine Magbanua?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, so in that comment I actually was referring to when I found out the phone records of Katherine and Charlie, like, speaking in the morning, when they showed how often they would speak on the phone.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right, thank you. Did Mr. Adelson ever express any interest in or curiosity to you about who had killed his brother-in-law?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, yeah, he just said he didn't know who did it and it was just like an unsolved blank mystery.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I'm going to ask you to look at page 70 — I'm sorry, 34, 34 — of that same mini transcript in front of you. And if you'll review lines 10 through 15, and just let me know when you're done. 10 through 15.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, ma'am. So yes, I see it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And didn't you tell law enforcement back when this interview was conducted, quote: "You know, if it wasn't him, he never said, 'Oh, I wonder who killed Dan,' or like, if it was just him saying, just like fearing — like he used to have, like, clothes by his bed in case they came to get him and stuff, like, in the middle of the night. He was just very scared that they would come and take him." Is that what you said?
JUNE UMCHINDA: So I wasn't — is that what you said? Well, no, I didn't say that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, did he — "never said he wondered" — you've answered the question. So the transcript is incorrect?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Is the transcript incorrect?
JUNE UMCHINDA: As opposed to your question, or you mean in general?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: The question I asked you. It doesn't match up to your question, no.
MR. RASHBAUM: Judge, may we go to sidebar?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I'm going to request that we not go to sidebar. I have another question to ask the witness.
JUDGE EVERETT: Very well.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did Mr. Adelson ever express any sympathy regarding the death of Dan Markel in your presence?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Your attention to page 84 of the transcript, lines 23 and 24. Page
JUNE UMCHINDA: 84, lines 23 and 24. I'm sorry, you mean section 84?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No, ma'am, it's page 84. I think I've got the lines wrong. Let me just take a look.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, I was correct, 23 and 24, but you might need to back up a little for context. Didn't you tell law enforcement, "That's what was weird to me. I'm always like, well, if you didn't do it, then who do you think did it or something, and he wouldn't ever like show any sympathy or anything"?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't even see on page 84.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Thank you. What— about. Let's go back to Katherine Magbanua. Did you ever actually meet her, or just knew that she worked at Obed's office?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, she greeted me when I walked in the door there, so I met her as like a somebody walking in really quick.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. But never hung out with her socially, or—
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, I don't even think I spoke to her.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. Was Katherine Magbanua, if you know, the girlfriend that was right before you with Charlie? Was— I'm sorry, was she the girlfriend that preceded you, or was right— right before you?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, I didn't even know about her. There was another girl before me.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Who was the girl that was right before you?
JUNE UMCHINDA: That I know of, it was Whitney Kick.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How long did he date Whitney Kick?
JUNE UMCHINDA: So initially when I met Charlie in February — I don't know if it was February, around then — he was with Whitney at that time. So I think he broke up with her a little before we got together, so—
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Was there anybody else between Katherine Magbanua and you, other than Whitney Kick, to your knowledge?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, there was.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, who was that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, someone named Jessica.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you ever know of Katherine Magbanua to be employed working for Charlie Adelson?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: During— the time frame of the bump — but so the bump in April, but prior to Ms. Magbanua's arrest in October, was the defendant picking up communication with Katherine Magbanua? Did you notice that he was communicating with her more?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't know if it was that time frame.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Like I said, during this time frame that I'm talking about, did the defendant express concerns to you that his phone was being tapped?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, it was probably during that time frame, but he did say that at some point.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Were you still dating the defendant at the time that Katherine Magbanua was arrested on October 1st of 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What was the defendant's behavior like after her arrest?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, I think around that time the media got a hold of the story, so there was—
MS. CAPPLEMAN: That's not my question. What was the defendant's behavior like after Katherine Magbanua was arrested?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Well, I guess his behavior was just someone that's being convicted of murder — or not convicted, accused of murder, I'm sorry.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. Was he, quote, "very scary to be around," and—
JUNE UMCHINDA: I might have said that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: You might have said that, or you did say that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think I— I did say that because we had a fight, so I was afraid one time.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Was he, quote, "just like angry and different"?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I guess he was, yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Was he violent, agitated, and short-fused during that time frame?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe so.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he have trouble sleeping, or being alone, didn't want to be home? Do you recall saying that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: When the case came up, did everything just tick him off?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he start getting really red and screaming and take random walks, like just acting like a crazy person?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, yes. It's— yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he get a second phone around this time frame, and possibly even a third phone?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, I saw one other phone. I don't know about a third.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So did he start communicating with you via the WhatsApp application?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He did. Um, he started that because he was also out of the country once, so we started using it then.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he— did— he sleep with a gun at night in that time frame, specifically?
JUNE UMCHINDA: So when you say sleep, um, do you mean like physically in the bed? Or you tell me.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So the gun—
JUNE UMCHINDA: He had guns because he has had— his carry license, so he had a few at different places, so in his bedroom.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But specifically in this time frame, did he change his habits in reference to the gun?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So did I know— okay, so he didn't begin sleeping with a gun under his pillow or near his bed where he hadn't before?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, not sleeping with it, like it was in the room though, so I don't know.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. Was he super stressed and very affected by the arrest of Katherine Magbanua?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But not super stressed and very affected, from what you observed, by the death of Daniel Markel, was he?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I have no idea about that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Well, you said he wasn't.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Where is that in the interview that we just reviewed?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 84— lines 23 and 24. Which we've already done. I think you couldn't find page 84.
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, but I think I know what you're talking about. It was— I think I was— I was speculating on it. He didn't say— he wouldn't show like any sympathy or anything, right? I mean, that was my opinion, but I have no idea if he did or not.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Well, the question was, did he express it to you?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I— think his actions did, but he didn't physically— like verbally say it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: His actions expressed grief over the death of Dan Markel? What were those actions?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Well, I mean, just somebody concerned, upset over this tragedy and everything.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But that's the opposite of what you told law enforcement in your law enforcement interview.
JUNE UMCHINDA: That was like a long time ago.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So does your memory— has your memory improved since 2018 regarding this incident and Charles Adelson's lack of remorse over the death of his brother-in-law?
JUNE UMCHINDA: So after that, he— I mean, after whatever I said, obviously, it's been a long— a lot of years, so he probably expressed sympathy after I said that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What about his mother, Donna Adelson? Did you know her?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I did.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How was she holding it together during this time frame where the bump was occurring, after the bump occurred?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think she was also stressed out.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you observe her to be crying or appear as if she had been crying?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I've seen her like that before, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did she tell you she was on painkillers for stress?
JUNE UMCHINDA: She may have, I'm not sure.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you notice that Donna Adelson was really involved with her grandchildren?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe she was.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And was — was that Wendi's kids?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Specifically, did Donna Adelson ever express any concerns to you about who killed Dan Markel?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you say to law enforcement that the Adelsons weren't ever curious, like, who really killed him? They weren't upset about it, it seemed like.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you say that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I might have said it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page 50, lines 19 through 23.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Okay, so what were you asking? I'm sorry.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you say, quote, "like they weren't ever curious, like who really killed him? They weren't upset about it, it seemed like"?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I did, and I was speculating again, so.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did the defendant ever say anything about something he did coming back to him?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Where is that?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Why don't you answer the question first?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Wait, what was — you said something coming back to him? What do you mean?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes, ma'am. I mean, did the defendant ever tell you about something bad he did coming back to him?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think he was referring to a horoscope.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes, tell us about that, please.
JUNE UMCHINDA: From what I recall, I think we were just reading horoscopes and his — I don't even remember at this point, I'd have to look it up again, but.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page 109.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Okay.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you review this transcript this morning before your testimony today?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I reviewed it beforehand in the email that you sent, so — Which line was it — page 80? I'm sorry, this —
MS. CAPPLEMAN: — is page 109, line 9 through page 110, line 1. The — question is, did you say that the horoscope was something about "something you did in the past will come back and take a big toll on your life," and he said, quote, "Isn't that so true? Wow, that's on point" or something?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Was this before or after the arrest of Katherine Magbanua?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I really don't remember that part.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you ever ask him about what happened to Dan Markel?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I did, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What did he tell you?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Well, he told me he was shot and they know who did it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. What about Wendi Adelson? Were you ever around her during the time that you were dating her brother?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did she ever express any concern to you about the murder of her child's father?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I — don't really remember too much of it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did the topic come up at all regarding the death?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think a topic about her — her being a single mother came up, and that's all I remember.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did she make a comment to you that things were still hard for her even though Dan was gone?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Did she make a comment, you're asking? Yes.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think it was something along the lines of that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And did, at some point, Charlie Adelson tell you that he and Wendi were actually fighting about this case?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He mentioned that at some point in time.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And was Wendi not speaking to the defendant for some period of time because of something to do with this case?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't know, like, how long the time was, but I believe, yes, she wasn't speaking to him at one point.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And did you know what the thing having to do with this case was that caused them to not be speaking?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I have no idea.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: During the time that you were dating Charlie Adelson, I think you said you would stay over there at the house in Whale Harbor. Was that every night or most every night?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Every night. Maybe one night like we missed, like, or if he was out of town.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: During the time that you were over there, did you have an opportunity to observe large amounts of cash in his residence?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I've seen cash there.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right, and are you aware of a large safe that's there in the residence?
JUNE UMCHINDA: There is a safe.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And during the time that you were dating him, did he have money in that safe, cash?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe so.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And did he have thousands and thousands of dollars, stacks of hundreds?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you say that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe at one point in time.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you say, quote, "Hundreds are like dollars to him"?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I did say that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you say that, quote, "All of his money is like stapled together, the hundreds in bundles"?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe I did say that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Do you need to review the statement?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No. I said — I mentioned like the staples, I just don't remember the bundle part. Are those my exact words, on page 42, line 22?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I'm sorry — 42, lines 20 through 22.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Okay, I see it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And did you say, "All of his money is like stapled together, the hundreds in bundles"?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: After your breakup with Mr. Adelson, has he made any large purchases on your behalf?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't know.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: You don't know?
JUNE UMCHINDA: After our breakup? Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Like, has he bought you a big-ticket item, a car, a condo?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Has anybody tried to tell you what to say here today?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Has anybody told you to forget what you said in that interview? Did anybody instruct you to do that? Is my question.
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: One moment, please.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, thanks.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No further questions.
MR. RASHBAUM: Let's start right there.
MR. RASHBAUM: Good afternoon. My name is Dan Rashbaum.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Hi, good afternoon.
MR. RASHBAUM: Have we ever met before?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: Have you ever seen me before in your life?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I saw you on the internet, but no, never in person in my life.
MR. RASHBAUM: Fair enough. Have I ever talked to you on the phone?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, I got a subpoena from you the other day to attend trial here, but I've never physically heard from you.
MR. RASHBAUM: Has anyone from my office, my colleague Kate Myers, anyone from my team at all ever reached out to you about anything?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay. I was actually surprised you didn't get a depo or anything from me. I never deposed you, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, I haven't heard from you or Charlie or anyone.
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay, so let's just make that clear.
MR. RASHBAUM: Let's clear up a couple other things.
MR. RASHBAUM: Professor Markel was murdered in 2014.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you know Charlie Adelson in 2014?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: You didn't start dating him until, I think you said, give or take October of 2015, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: That's right.
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay, so any type of feelings he had about the murder of Professor Markel in 2014, you wouldn't know anything about that, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay, we're going to do a little bit more of this in a little bit, but that time period that Miss Cappleman was asking you about — that you were confused about — where Charlie was acting odd, right? You know what the bump is, right? The Donna thing, the extortion, where law enforcement approached Donna Adelson on the street.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: You probably watched it on TV.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, everywhere.
MR. RASHBAUM: Right. And you know there was a liar involved in that, correct?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
MR. RASHBAUM: And that's the point in time that Charlie Adelson was acting kind of weird, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, I believe so.
MR. RASHBAUM: Let's go back a little bit.
MR. RASHBAUM: When you dated Charlie, uh, did you go out a lot when you were dating?
JUNE UMCHINDA: It was like 50/50, but yes, in the beginning we went out a lot every weekend if we could — do nights sometimes too.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did he work a lot?
JUNE UMCHINDA: A lot. He started early in the morning and came home late at night a lot of days, almost pretty much every day but like Sunday and Saturday — sometime Saturday, Sunday.
MR. RASHBAUM: And he worked most of the time six days a week.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And his work would take him all over the southern part of the state, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: He'd be in the car a lot, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: When he dated you and he was in the car, did he bother you a lot by calling you all the time while he was driving?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, I — he knew I was at work, and we would see each other before leaving the house and then when we got back, so he didn't have a need to really call me on his way to work. He would text me, and we would text sometimes throughout the day if I had a chance.
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, you said Charlie keeps a lot of cash at his house, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Um, I probably said that, yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay. And he staples his cash, correct?
JUNE UMCHINDA: That's what I saw, yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay. And again, you saw this cash at his house in 2016, right, when you dated him? What, well after the murder?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh yeah, well way after that, yeah.
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, there is this discussion about a gun and sleeping with it — and sleeping with it, he keeps a gun in his nightstand next to his bed, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: Are you aware that that habit started on July 18, 2014?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I have no idea.
MR. RASHBAUM: But ever since you knew him, he kept a gun on his nightstand, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Not on it. In the drawer in his nightstand. I think it was in his safe and in the car.
MR. RASHBAUM: By the way, his house has a lot of camera equipment, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yeah.
MR. RASHBAUM: Like a lot of camera equipment, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Are you aware that that camera equipment was installed within two weeks of Professor Markel's murder? Are you aware of that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, but it was there when you were there, correct.
MR. RASHBAUM: Right. How about the barbed wire behind his house? His barbed wire, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Are you aware that that was installed after Professor Markel's murder?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you ever go to the Adelson Institute?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I did.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you see all the camera equipment there?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I didn't notice.
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, I think you talked about this, that there were a lot of that media was starting to come around, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And this was in 2016, after the bump and after some arrests?
MR. RASHBAUM: Right. And after the Tallahassee Police Department released an affidavit saying that Charlie Adelson was part of the murder, do you recall that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: And you asked him and he said he didn't do it, right? That's—
JUDGE EVERETT: A question by Mr. Rashbaum. Please continue.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did Ms. Cappleman just ask you whether — whether you asked Charlie Adelson about the murder?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Not in the same context, but yes, basically.
MR. RASHBAUM: Judge, may I go to the sidebar? I want to make sure I don't step on it.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may continue with your examination.
MR. RASHBAUM: Let me ask it this way.
MR. RASHBAUM: After you asked Charlie Adelson if he knew anything or participated in the murder, did you continue to date him?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you continue to stay at his house almost every day?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes. We worked every day until we broke up.
MR. RASHBAUM: You didn't have any worry about your safety, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: By the way, during this time period—
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, can I interrupt you, sir? I did have a worry about oh, it was clarifying it.
JUDGE EVERETT: Then you may clarify your answer as to the last question.
JUNE UMCHINDA: So, um, I'm sorry, the last question one more time, because now I've— I have forgotten.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I have forgotten.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you continue to stay at his house and spend time with him?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Now I remember. Okay. You asked if I felt safe.
JUNE UMCHINDA: So at one point in time, he was getting death threats and all this stuff. So at that time when we were together, I kind of felt unsafe with people recognizing us or something like that.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you ever feel unsafe do you ever think that Charlie Adelson was gonna hurt you?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, during the time after these media reports, etc., did Charlie take trips overseas?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did he always come back?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did he once tell you he wasn't— Withdraw, withdraw. Miss Cappleman asked you about how he was— was angry, how he was upset. Do you recall those questions?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
MR. RASHBAUM: At that time, there were Dateline specials being aired, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, more than Dateline.
MR. RASHBAUM: And what was his reaction to these media reports?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think he was just flustered and stressed out and a ton of different emotions.
MR. RASHBAUM: Questions. Was he angry?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, you were interviewed by law enforcement in 2018.
MR. RASHBAUM: I think that's what we established finally today, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And your testimony then was essentially the same as it was today, correct?
JUNE UMCHINDA: My testimony? Oh, from being— yes, yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: They asked you pretty much the same questions?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, we just went over my transcript basically.
MR. RASHBAUM: So that was in 2018. There's nothing today that they asked you different, is new from 2018, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, my memory just didn't remember the dates, but no, their questions were the same.
MR. RASHBAUM: There's no new topic, right? When was Charlie Adelson arrested?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe it was April 2022.
MR. RASHBAUM: So four years after, they asked you those very same questions, correct?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Correct.
MR. RASHBAUM: May I have one moment, Your Honor? One — moment, Your Honor. Just double-check. Has Charlie ever told you to lie?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Sorry, has he ever told me a lie?
MR. RASHBAUM: Yeah.
JUNE UMCHINDA: He has.
MR. RASHBAUM: Has— yes, he's told you to lie?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, I thought you said "a lie." Has Charlie ever told me to lie? No, never.
MR. RASHBAUM: No further questions.
JUDGE EVERETT: Redirect.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So he has told you a "lie" but never told you "to" lie?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So the defense was trying to get you to move the time period of when Charlie was acting crazy and angry to when the news articles were being published, right? But in your law enforcement interview, you articulated that he had been acting weird for weeks prior to that first news article, isn't that right? And you didn't know why.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, ma'am. Yes, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And did they— they raised— oh, didn't he tell you he didn't have anything to do with it? Did he tell you that he had purchased a vehicle for Ms. Magbanua or given her a vehicle?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He didn't tell me, but I saw that in the 2020 thing and asked him about it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, and he admitted he gave her a vehicle?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He said his father— it was an old car that his father canceled.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he give her a vehicle?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't know.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he mention giving her or contributing to a breast augmentation for Katherine Magbanua?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He said he never contributed to that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: If you'll look at tab one of the binder in front of you, the trial on May 23rd, 2022 should be your first tab.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And if you'll look first on page 1197, lines 19 through 24 are— Are you with me?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, um, can you say the lines again? What were the lines?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes, ma'am. It's 1197 is the page and the lines are 19 through 24.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you previously testify, "Question: Did he put you on the payroll at the Adelson Institute after you broke up?" "No." "Do you recall him telling you that he gave Katherine Magbanua a car?" "Answer: I do."
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page 1216.
JUNE UMCHINDA: That's what he said, yes, at the time.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Would you turn to 1216?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I'm there, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Oh, okay. And in that testimony, did you also testify— testify— "Question: So now your testimony is that he said— told you he paid for half of her breast augmentation."
JUNE UMCHINDA: He said that at one point, but I think it was a joke.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No further questions.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may step down. Will the witness be recalled by either party?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: We do have her on the subpoena, so there's a possibility.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may step down.