6.Wendi Adelson — Direct/Cross/Redirect (Recall)
64 linesJUDGE EVERETT: You may step down, ma'am.
Please call your next witness, State.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: State calls Wendi Adelson.
JUDGE EVERETT: Ms. Adelson, you remain under oath. You may be seated.
WHEREUPON, WENDI ADELSON - RECALLED was called as a witness, having previously been sworn to speak the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth, was examined and testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Ms. Adelson, we've got two points we need clarification on from you.
when we talked about your relationship with Jeffrey Lacasse, we talked about a occasion on July 13, 2014. It would have been the Sunday before the murder. And on that occasion, did you, at your residence that evening, in the context of discussing the relocation issue with involving you and your children moving to South Florida, did you say that Charlie, your brother, this defendant, had explored all options to resolve the problem, including hiring a hitman, and it would cost either 15 or $50,000?
WENDI ADELSON: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And did you have a conversation with Jeffrey Lacasse at your residence that night where you said you wanted to share something in confidence with him?
WENDI ADELSON: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you ever say that your brother had seriously hired a hitman where you weren't repeating a joke --
WENDI ADELSON: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: -- you were serious?
All right. And second point for clarification involves that dinner where you got sick at the dinner table. You recall which -- which evening I'm speaking of?
WENDI ADELSON: I do.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: This would have been about two weeks to a month after the homicide, I believe. Okay.
And at -- on that occasion, did you ever tell Jeffrey Lacasse that Charlie had referred to the dinner as a celebration dinner?
WENDI ADELSON: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you ever tell Jeffrey Lacasse that it was a celebration dinner?
WENDI ADELSON: No.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No further questions.
JUDGE EVERETT: Cross-exam?
MR. RASHBAUM: Very briefly, Your Honor. / / / / /
CROSS EXAMINATION BY MR. RASHBAUM:
MR. RASHBAUM: Good afternoon. During your interrogation, do you recall Jeffrey Lacasse's name coming up?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And do you recall that it was Jane McPherson who brought up his name, not you?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes. Correct.
MR. RASHBAUM: And do you recall, as a result of his name being brought up, he was considered a suspect?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And do you recall that Detective Isom asked you a lot of questions about him?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And he asked you about his car?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And he asked you about his travel schedule?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes.
MR. RASHBAUM: And he asked you for his information so that he could speak with him, correct?
WENDI ADELSON: Correct.
MR. RASHBAUM: But you didn't bring up his name, right?
WENDI ADELSON: No.
MR. RASHBAUM: You didn't try to frame Jeffrey Lacasse for any murder, right?
WENDI ADELSON: Absolutely not.
MR. RASHBAUM: In fact, Jane McPherson was the one who brought up his name, correct?
WENDI ADELSON: She was.
MR. RASHBAUM: I have no further questions.
JUDGE EVERETT: Please approach.
(Bench conference held as follows: )
JUDGE EVERETT: Given the unique nature of what we had to deal with earlier, is there anything else that you need to ask this witness about? Because I believe the entire point of this is to set up the impeachment.
Ms. Cappleman, am I wrong?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: No. You're correct, Your Honor.
MR. RASHBAUM: On the Crawford issue, I'm okay now.
JUDGE EVERETT: Very well.
MR. RASHBAUM: TI still hold the earlier argument regarding -- I don't know the Florida rule but collateral evidence rule. But on the Crawford issue, I will withdraw that.
JUDGE EVERETT: Very well.
(Bench conference concluded.)
JUDGE EVERETT: Redirect examination?
REDIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CAPPLEMAN:
MS. CAPPLEMAN: But Jeffrey Lacasse's name did come up while you were in the interview room being interviewed in reference to the shooting, right?
WENDI ADELSON: Jane McPherson brought him up.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: She -- she was in the room with you during the interview?
WENDI ADELSON: For some of it, not for the whole time.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay. But during the part where Jeffrey Lacasse's name came up, she was in the interview -- interview room with you?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes. She brought him up.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: And this is the same interview that we referenced previously where you were taken from the restaurant to be told about what happened with Dan?
WENDI ADELSON: Yes.
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Nothing further.
JUDGE EVERETT: You may step down, ma'am.
will Ms. Adelson be recalled by either the State or the defense again?
MS. CAPPLEMAN: Certainly hope not, Your Honor.