5.June Umchinda — Direct/Cross/Redirect
602 linesBAILIFF: All rise. Jury entering the courtroom.
(jury enters.)
JUDGE EVERETT: Everyone but the witness may be seated.
Please raise your right hand, ma'am.
WHEREUPON, JUNE UMCHINDA was called as a witness, having first been duly sworn to speak the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth, was examined and testified as follows:
JUNE UMCHINDA: I do.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may take your seat.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Ma'am, please state your name and spell your name.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Hi. I'm 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 going to have to lean that close to the microphone.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, okay.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: we can let you know if we can't hear you.
where do you live, ma'am?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I'm in South Florida.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Do you know Charlie Adelson?
(Brief interruption.)
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, gosh. I'm sorry. It was my alarm to come here -- down here.
BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Is it silenced now?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. It's all right.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Wait. Let me just check if it's -- 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: Let the record reflect the witness has identified the defendant.
JUDGE EVERETT: The record will reflect.
BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: when did you date Mr. Adelson?
JUNE UMCHINDA: We initially met in -- I think it was, like, February or so and then --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: February of what year?
JUNE UMCHINDA: 2015.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay.
JUNE UMCHINDA: And we didn't speak for about eight months. we just had, like, a brief meeting. And then in October we officially started dating.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: October of 2015?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And how long did you date him?
JUNE UMCHINDA: For roughly two and a half years, like, officially.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. Does June of 2017 sound like the end, correct end of your relationship?
JUNE UMCHINDA: officially, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And did you continue to talk to Mr. Adelson after the break-up?
JUNE UMCHINDA: we did.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: when was the last time you spoke to Mr. Adelson?
JUNE UMCHINDA: A day or so before his arrest.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay.
JUNE UMCHINDA: 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 -- 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 break-up?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, right. This was in April of last -- 2022.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What was the nature of your relationship after the official break-up? 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 years so...
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And do you still have feelings for Mr. Adelson as we sit here today?
JUNE UMCHINDA: So he's my last serious boyfriend, so I would say yes, that it's -- there's something still there. I care about him. But, obviously, I haven't seen him in God knows how long.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And do you recall being interviewed by the Tallahassee Police Department in reference to this case on July 24, 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?
JUNE UMCHINDA: On the phone, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And when was your -- when is your birthday?
JUNE UMCHINDA: June 28.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So is that -- that was prior to -- obviously, prior to his arrest, but just a few months before the trial of Katherine Magbanua. Did you talk to him then as well?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I'm not -- I don't recall when her trial was. I know she had a retrial so --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay.
JUNE UMCHINDA: -- I don't know the dates specifically.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. But in the -- in one of those trials, didn't you talk -- 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 --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. 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 were 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 19, 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 --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: The thing when Donna Adelson was approached --
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: -- by an undercover officer? Okay.
So how far into your relationship with him were you at the time that that occurred? And that's, again, April 19, 2016.
JUNE UMCHINDA: About a year, roughly, I would say.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. But you began dating officially in --
JUNE UMCHINDA: well, from October, so that's not a year.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 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. 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 that.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Every day, yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Every day, okay. And have you previously described the relationship at that time as a fairy tale?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Back then, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. Perfect?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Inseparable?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, we were.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So the two of you were together quite a lot during that timeframe?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yeah. I basically lived there.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. 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: And did the relationship change at some -- well, let me -- before we leave that, when the bump occurred on April 19, 2016, did he, Mr. Adelson, tell you about the bump?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. So at some point did the relationship change around this timeframe, 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 timeframe 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 timeframe?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't know, like, if it was in that timeframe 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 24, 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: Does it 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 and, 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 timeframe, 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: 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 is what happened 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 17, 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 rented a barbecue, and it was embarrassing that they took a photo of me with it. So I remember that, that I still had that Band Aid on my arm. So it might have been around May or something.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Maybe Memorial Day.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Are we sure it was in 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: well, there's a picture, like, the reporter has on the Internet. So whenever that article came out, it would be then.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I'll approach and show you an article and ask if this is the one you're referencing.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes. So there's the Band Aid on my arm, as you can see.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And what -- what is the date of that article?
JUNE UMCHINDA: That says June 17. So when's Memorial Day? May?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes. what -- what is the year on the article?
JUNE UMCHINDA: 2016.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So can we agree it was approximately in June of 2016 that you got approached?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I believe it was May, but I think they published the article in June. But yes, around June, May/June.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I thought the -- 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 --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: From the interaction?
JUNE UMCHINDA: 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: 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 -- they, like, ran up to me asking if I'm Katherine, and I had no idea who that was. So I didn't even know who they were.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How come -- you didn't know who Katherine Magbanua was?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Not at all. No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 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 Charlie's ex-girlfriend, and she also worked for another friend of mine at their front desk.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And who is that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Jerry Obed.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: All right. And was she working for Jerry Obed at the time that you learned about her, I guess learned of her existence?
JUNE UMCHINDA: 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: Right.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: -- yes?
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 so...
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But he told you not to talk to the police?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right. Because I think he had to go away that weekend or week, and I was at the house by myself so...
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 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: Okay. 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 -- I didn't really know the reason. And also, I think he was 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? Which time is it?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: The two weeks prior to the publication of that article, which was published on June 17, 2016.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Two weeks before that? I can't remember exactly when I found out about Katherine Magbanua. Like, I know it was after May, so if it was in that two-week period before the article came out, then --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you say on -- in your interview with law enforcement that in that timeframe, 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: 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 the Philippines.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. I'm going to draw your attention to page 72.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I don't have a binder.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I'm going to bring you one. Page 72, lines 7 through 22 on your interview. This is a mini so if you need it to be bigger, I can probably work on that. But this is 72 here. If you'll read to yourself lines 7 through 22.
CA pause in the proceeding.)
JUNE UMCHINDA: Okay. So --
BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
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: 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: He -- I mean, yeah. He just said he didn't know who did it, and it was just, like, an unsolved, like, mystery.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I'm going to ask you to look at page seventy- -- 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.
JUNE UMCHINDA: 10 through 15, was it?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes, ma'am.
JUNE UMCHINDA: So, yes, I see it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And didn't you tell the -- 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 was saying --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Ma'am, is that what you said?
JUNE UMCHINDA: well, no, I didn't say that exactly.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I said --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did --
JUNE UMCHINDA: He never said he wondered --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: You've answered the question.
JUDGE EVERETT: One moment. Don't speak over each other. Please wait for her to ask you the question; then answer it.
BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: So the transcript is incorrect?
MR. RASHBAUM: Judge, improper question; objection.
JUDGE EVERETT: Overruled.
BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Is the transcript incorrect? That's a yes or no.
JUNE UMCHINDA: As opposed to your question, or you mean in general?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: The question I asked you.
JUNE UMCHINDA: It doesn't match up to your question, no.
MR. RASHBAUM: Judge, may we go sidebar?
JUDGE EVERETT: You may approach.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I'm going to request that we not go sidebar. I have another question to ask the witness.
JUDGE EVERETT: Very well.
BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
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: I'm going to turn your attention to page 84 of the transcript, lines 23 and 24.
MR. RASHBAUM: What page? I'm sorry.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page 84, lines 23 and 24. I'm sorry.
JUNE UMCHINDA: You mean section 84?
BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No, ma'am. It's page 84. I think I've got the lines wrong. Let me just take a look. Yes. 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: All right. 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.
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?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Was -- I'm sorry?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Was she the girlfriend that preceded you or was 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: There was.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. who was that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Someone named Jessica.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you ever know Katherine Magbanua to be employed working for Charlie Adelson?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: During the timeframe 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 timeframe, like I said.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: During this timeframe 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 timeframe, but he did say that at some point so...
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Were you still dating the defendant at the time that Katherine Magbanua was arrested on October 1, 2016?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And what was the defendant's behavior like after her arrest?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, I think around that time, the media got ahold of the story so there was --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: That's not my question. what was the defendant's behavior like after Katherine Magbanua's arrest?
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?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, I might have said that.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: You might have said that or you did say that?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think 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 timeframe?
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: Yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he start getting really red and screaming, and take random walks, like, just acting like a crazy person?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he get a second phone around this timeframe and possibly even a third phone?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I saw one other phone. I don't know about a third so...
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did he start communicating with you via the whatsApp application?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He did. 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 at -- in that timeframe specifically?
JUNE UMCHINDA: So when you say sleep, do you mean, like, physically in the bed or...
MS. CAPPLEMAN: You tell me. where was the gun?
JUNE UMCHINDA: He had guns because he has -- had his -- his carry license, so he had a few at different places, so in his bedroom --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But specifically in this timeframe, did he change his habits in reference to the gun?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No, not that I know of.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. So he didn't begin sleeping with a gun under his pillow or near his bed where he hadn't before?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Not sleeping with it. Like, it was in the room, though, so I don't know where.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 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?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: In the interview that we just reviewed where --
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, what line is it?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 84, lines 23 and 24 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.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: He wouldn't show, like, any sympathy or anything, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: 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?
JUNE UMCHINDA: (witness nods head.)
MS. CAPPLEMAN: What were those actions?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I mean, just somebody concerned/upset over this tragedy and everything.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: That's the opposite of what you told law enforcement in your law enforcement interview --
JUNE UMCHINDA: well, that was, like, a long time ago --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Has your memory -- has your memory improved since 2018?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Regarding what?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 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: All right. What about his mother, Donna Adelson, did you know her?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I did.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: How was she holding it together during this timeframe 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 pain killers 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 that wendi's kids --
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: -- specifically?
Did Donna Adelson ever express any concerns to you about who killed Dan Markel?
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? 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. That's why I'd have to look it up again but...
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page 109.
Did you review this transcript this morning before your testimony today?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I reviewed it beforehand in the e-mail that you sent.
So which line was it?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page eighty- -- I'm sorry. This is page 109, line 9 through page 110, line 1.
And 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 didn't 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 the topic about 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?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think it was something along the lines of that, if I remember.
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, then...
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? Would 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 or --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Page 42, lines 22 -- I'm sorry. 42, lines 20 through 22.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Okay. TI see it.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And did you say, All of his money is, like, stapled -- all of his money is, like, stapled together, the hundreds in bundles?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: After your break-up with Mr. Adelson, have -- 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 break-up?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Yes. Like, has he bought you a big-ticket item:
JUNE UMCHINDA: car? a condo?
A. No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Has anybody tried to tell you what to say here today?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Has anybody --
JUNE UMCHINDA: Just myself.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Has anybody told you to forget what you said in that interview? Did anybody instruct you to do that, is my question?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: One moment, please, Your Honor.
JUDGE EVERETT: Take your time.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Is there any water around?
JUDGE EVERETT: No, ma'am. You'll be off the witness stand soon.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Okay. Thank you.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No further questions.
JUDGE EVERETT: Cross-examination?
CROSS EXAMINATION BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: All right. well, let's start right there.
Good afternoon. My name's Dan Rashbaum.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Hi. Good afternoon.
MR. RASHBAUM: Have we ever met before?
MR. RASHBAUM: Have you ever seen me before in your life?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I saw you in -- 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 Meyers, anyone from my team at all ever reached out to you about anything?
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay.
JUNE UMCHINDA: I was actually surprised you didn't get a depo or anything from me so...
MR. RASHBAUM: I never deposed you, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No. I haven't heard from you or Charlie or anyone.
MR. RASHBAUM: Okay. Let's just make that clear.
Let's clear up a couple other things. Professor Markel was murdered in 2014.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you know Charlie Adelson in 2014?
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: 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 Ms. Cappleman was asking you that you were confused about where Charlie was acting odd?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: You know what the bump is, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: The Donna thing, the extortion.
MR. RASHBAUM: where law enforcement approached Donna Adelson on the street.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: You probably watched -- watched it on Tv?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes, everywhere.
MR. RASHBAUM: Right. And you know there was a wire 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. When you dated Charlie, 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.
MR. RASHBAUM: He started early in the morning and came home late at night a lot of days?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Almost -- pretty much every day but, like, Sunday and Saturday sometime, Saturday/Sunday.
MR. RASHBAUM: And he worked, most -- 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: 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: 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, well after the murder?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, yeah. well, way after, yeah.
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, there is this discussion about a gun and sleeping with it in -- 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.
MR. RASHBAUM: In the drawer in his nightstand?
JUNE UMCHINDA: I think it was in his safe and in the car but...
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?
MR. RASHBAUM: But it was there when you were there, correct?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: How about the barbed wire behind his house; he has barbed wire, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Are you aware that that was installed after Professor Markel's murder?
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?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: 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?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Objection; hearsay.
JUDGE EVERETT: Sustained as to self-serving hearsay.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Move to strike.
JUDGE EVERETT: Members of the jury, you're to disregard the last question by Mr. Rashbaum.
Please continue.
BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: Did Ms. Cappleman just ask you whether -- what -- whether you asked Charlie Adelson about the murder?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Not in the same context, but yes, basically.
MR. RASHBAUM: Judge, may I go sidebar? I want to make sure I don't step on it.
JUDGE EVERETT: You can approach.
(Bench conference held as follows:)
MR. RASHBAUM: She asked the question. She didn't give a date, but that's when the question was asked.
JUDGE EVERETT: Keep your voice down.
MR. RASHBAUM: So now I'm not allowed to ask her what he said in response?
JUDGE EVERETT: You can examine on the topics that she brought up in direct, but as far as it veering into self-serving hearsay, you still don't get to do that.
MR. RASHBAUM: Fair enough.
(Bench conference concluded.)
JUDGE EVERETT: You may continue with your examination.
BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: Let me ask it this way: 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 were every day until we broke up.
MR. RASHBAUM: You didn't have any worry about your safety, right?
MR. RASHBAUM: By the way, during this time period --
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, can I interrupt you, sir? I did have a worry about --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Objection.
JUDGE EVERETT: Hold on.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Improper --
JUDGE EVERETT: They're going to need to ask you the question. You just don't get to start offering Statements unless it's clarifying the last question.
JUNE UMCHINDA: It was clarifying it.
JUDGE EVERETT: Then you may clarify your answer as to the last question.
JUNE UMCHINDA: So -- I'm sorry. The last question one more time? Because now I forgot it.
JUDGE EVERETT: Please ask it again.
MR. RASHBAUM: I have forgotten it as well.
JUDGE EVERETT: Did you continue to stay in his house and spend time with him? T believe that was the question.
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, now I remember. Okay. You asked if I felt safe. 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.
BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: Did you ever feel unsafe -- did you ever think that Charlie Adelson was going to hurt you?
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, during the time after these media reports, et cetera, 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 --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Objection; hearsay.
MR. RASHBAUM: Withdraw. Withdraw.
JUDGE EVERETT: He's withdrawing the question.
BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: Ms. Cappleman asked you about how he 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 but...
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: Was he angry?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: Now, you were interviewed by law enforcement in 2018. 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: That was in 2018. There's nothing today that they asked you different, new, from 2018, right?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No. My memory just didn't remember the dates, but no.
MR. RASHBAUM: But their questions were the same? There's no new topic?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MR. RASHBAUM: 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?
JUDGE EVERETT: Go ahead.
MR. RASHBAUM: One moment, Your Honor.
CA pause in the proceeding.)
BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: Has Charlie ever told you to lie?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Has -- sorry. Has he ever told me a lie?
MR. RASHBAUM: Yeah.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Objection; hearsay.
JUDGE EVERETT: Overruled.
JUNE UMCHINDA: He has, yes.
BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: He's told you to lie?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Oh, I thought you said a lie.
MR. RASHBAUM: Has Charlie ever told you to lie?
JUNE UMCHINDA: No. Never.
MR. RASHBAUM: No further questions.
JUDGE EVERETT: Redirect examination?
REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: He has told you a lie. He's 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?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Right.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: 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: That's what I remember, yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Ma'am? Yes?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. And did -- 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 20/20 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 --
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 1 of the binder in front of you. The trial on May 23, 2022 should be your first tab. And if you'll look first on page 1197, lines 19 through 24. Are you with me?
JUNE UMCHINDA: Yes. Can you --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: I haven't asked a question.
JUNE UMCHINDA: What were --
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Oh, 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.
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:
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, sir.
MR. RASHBAUM: Judge, we -- we do have her under subpoena so there's a possibility.