Name: Wendi Adelson — Direct/Cross/Redirect (Recall) - Day 2 - Charlie Adelson
Uploaded: 2023-10-27
Description: Wendi Adelson's recall testimony closes with three short proceedings — a recall direct in which she denied Lacasse's excluded proffer account, a recross establishing that detectives introduced Lacasse's name in her July 18 interrogation, and a redirect confirming the same. Judge Everett then dismissed Wendi subject to subpoena, ending her multi-day testimony.

Wendi Adelson's recall testimony closes with three short proceedings — a recall direct in which she denied Lacasse's excluded proffer account, a recross establishing that detectives introduced Lacasse's name in her July 18 interrogation, and a redirect confirming the same. Judge Everett then dismissed Wendi subject to subpoena, ending her multi-day testimony.

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Proceedings

Direct Wendi Adelson - Direct (Recall) Line 1

Cross Wendi Adelson - Cross Line 20

Redirect Wendi Adelson - Redirect Line 44

Direct Wendi Adelson Georgia Cappleman

1 5:54:06

JUDGE EVERETT: Please call your next witness.

2 5:54:11

MS. CAPPLEMAN: State calls Wendi Adelson.

3 5:54:53

JUDGE EVERETT: You remain under oath. You may be seated.

4 5:55:00

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Miss Adelson, We've got two points we need clarification on from you. When we talked about your relationship with Jeffrey Lacasse, we talked about an occasion on July 13, 2014.

5 5:55:20

MS. CAPPLEMAN: It would have been the Sunday before the murder.

6 5:55:23

MS. CAPPLEMAN: And on that occasion, did you, at your residence that evening, in the context of discussing the relocation issue 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 thousand dollars?

7 5:55:51

WENDI ADELSON: No.

8 5:55:52

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?

9 5:56:01

WENDI ADELSON: No.

10 5:56:03

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you ever say that your brother had seriously hired a hitman, where you weren't repeating the joke — you were serious?

11 5:56:14

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Second point for clarification involves that dinner where you got sick at the dinner table.

12 5:56:21

MS. CAPPLEMAN: You recall which evening I'm speaking of?

13 5:56:24

WENDI ADELSON: I do.

14 5:56:24

WENDI ADELSON: This would have been about two weeks to a month after the homicide, I believe.

15 5:56:29

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, and on that occasion, did you ever tell Jeffrey Lacasse that Charlie had referred to the dinner as a celebration dinner?

16 5:56:39

WENDI ADELSON: No.

17 5:56:40

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Did you ever tell Jeffrey Lacasse that it was a celebration dinner?

18 5:56:45

WENDI ADELSON: No.

19 5:56:46

MS. CAPPLEMAN: No further questions.

Cross Wendi Adelson Dan Rashbaum

20 5:56:48

JUDGE EVERETT: Cross-exam.

21 5:56:49

MR. RASHBAUM: Very briefly.

22 5:57:01

MR. RASHBAUM: Good afternoon.

23 5:57:03

MR. RASHBAUM: During your interrogation, do you recall Jeffrey Lacasse's name coming up?

24 5:57:11

WENDI ADELSON: Yes.

25 5:57:13

MR. RASHBAUM: And do you recall that it was Jane McPherson who brought up his name, not you?

26 5:57:18

WENDI ADELSON: Yes, correct.

27 5:57:20

MR. RASHBAUM: And do you recall, as a result of his name being brought up, he was considered a suspect?

28 5:57:26

WENDI ADELSON: Yes.

29 5:57:28

MR. RASHBAUM: And you recall that Detective Isom asked you a lot of questions about him?

30 5:57:34

WENDI ADELSON: Yes.

31 5:57:34

MR. RASHBAUM: And he asked you about his car?

32 5:57:37

WENDI ADELSON: Yes.

33 5:57:38

MR. RASHBAUM: And he asked you about his travel schedule?

34 5:57:41

WENDI ADELSON: Yes.

35 5:57:42

MR. RASHBAUM: And he asked you for his information so that he could speak with him, correct?

36 5:57:47

WENDI ADELSON: Correct.

37 5:57:51

MR. RASHBAUM: But you didn't bring up his name, right?

38 5:57:53

WENDI ADELSON: No.

39 5:57:54

MR. RASHBAUM: You didn't try to frame Jeffrey Lacasse for any murder, right?

40 5:57:57

WENDI ADELSON: Absolutely not.

41 5:57:58

MR. RASHBAUM: In fact, Jane McPherson was the one who brought up his name, correct?

42 5:58:02

WENDI ADELSON: She was.

43 5:58:03

MR. RASHBAUM: I have no further questions.

Redirect Wendi Adelson Georgia Cappleman

44 5:58:05

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?

45 5:59:26

WENDI ADELSON: Jane McPherson brought him up.

46 5:59:28

MS. CAPPLEMAN: She was in the room with you during the interview?

47 5:59:32

WENDI ADELSON: For some of it, not for the whole time.

48 5:59:34

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Okay, but during the part where Jeffrey Lacasse's name came up, she was in the interview room with you?

49 5:59:40

WENDI ADELSON: Yes, she brought him up.

50 5:59:41

MS. CAPPLEMAN: And this is the same interview that we've referenced previously, where you were taken from the restaurant to be told about what happened with Dan?

51 5:59:50

WENDI ADELSON: Yes.

52 5:59:51

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Nothing further.

53 5:59:52

JUDGE EVERETT: You may step down, ma'am.

54 5:59:54

JUDGE EVERETT: Will Ms. Adelson be recalled by either the state or the defense again?

55 5:59:59

MS. CAPPLEMAN: Certainly hope not, Your Honor.

56 6:00:01

JUDGE EVERETT: You remain under subpoena.

Insights

Direct Wendi Adelson

In a two-question recall, Wendi Adelson flatly denied ever telling Jeffrey Lacasse on July 13, 2014, that Charlie had explored hiring a hitman, and denied ever characterizing the post-murder dinner as a celebration.

Case Significance

Though brief, this recall locks in Wendi's on-record denial of the two most damaging statements attributed to her by Lacasse — the July 13 hitman-hiring confidence and the celebration dinner characterization — creating a direct testimonial conflict with his excluded proffer account.

Wendi denies the July 13 hitman statement attributed to her by Lacasse in proffer (utterances 5556–5559)
Wendi denies the celebration dinner characterization attributed to her by Lacasse (utterances 5565–5568)
Recall follows court exclusion of Lacasse's proffer on fundamental fairness grounds (prior proceeding 138)

Highlights

Testimony

Cappleman frames the July 13 hitman allegation with specificity — location, date, context, dollar amounts — and Wendi denies making the statement to Lacasse, placing her denial on record against his excluded proffer account.

“did you, at your residence that evening, in the context of discussing the relocation issue 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 thousand dollars?”

— Georgia CapplemanCappleman places on record the precise allegation from Lacasse's excluded proffer — that Wendi confided Charlie had seriously explored hiring a hitman — eliciting Wendi's flat denial and establishing the factual basis for any future impeachment of Lacasse.Testimony

Wendi denies telling Lacasse that Charlie referred to the post-murder dinner as a celebration dinner, and denies using that characterization herself — directly contradicting the account Lacasse gave in proffer.

People Mentioned

Jeffrey Lacasse Charlie Adelson

Locations Mentioned

Wendi Adelson's residence

Deep Analysis

Attorney Strategy

Prosecution places denial on record as impeachment predicate

By recalling Wendi immediately after the court excluded Lacasse's proffer on fundamental fairness grounds, Cappleman preserves the factual predicate for any future use: if Lacasse testifies to those statements in any context, Wendi's denial is already on the record.

Evidentiary Or Procedural Notes

Recall follows court exclusion ruling (proceeding 138)

The court excluded Lacasse's July 13 proffer testimony on fundamental fairness grounds after Cappleman's sidebar representation prejudiced defense strategy. This recall is Cappleman's procedural response: establishing Wendi's denials through direct examination rather than through Lacasse.

Followup Questions Or Open Threads

Lacasse's excluded proffer — whether it surfaces

The court excluded Lacasse's July 13 statement on fundamental fairness grounds, but his proffer is preserved. Whether the defense reopens this issue or Lacasse's account becomes relevant through another avenue remains an open thread.

Impeachment Or Tension Points

Wendi–Lacasse account conflict

Lacasse's excluded proffer attributed two damaging statements to Wendi: that she confided Charlie had explored hiring a hitman, and that she described a dinner as celebratory. Wendi's recall denials create a direct testimonial conflict with his account on both points.

Testimony Themes

Flat denial of Lacasse's proffer account

Wendi denies both statements Lacasse attributed to her in proffer — the July 13 hitman confidence and the celebration dinner remark — with unequivocal single-word answers.

Witness Role And Importance

Witness Role And Importance

Wendi Adelson is recalled briefly as the family-link witness at the center of two disputed statements attributed to her by Jeffrey Lacasse — a July 13 hitman-hiring confidence and a post-murder celebration dinner characterization. Her recall places flat denials on the record, directly contradicting Lacasse's excluded proffer account.

Cross Wendi Adelson

Rashbaum's four-question recross established that detective Jane McPherson, not Wendi, first named Jeffrey Lacasse in the July 18 police interview, and that Wendi flatly denied trying to frame him.

Case Significance

Brief recross on a single narrow point: who first named Lacasse in the initial police interview.

Limited to four substantive questions on one topic
No new evidence admitted or significant admissions elicited
Strategic housekeeping after the prosecution's recall direct

Highlights

Testimony

Rashbaum established across five questions that detective McPherson, not Wendi, first named Lacasse in the police interview, and elicited Wendi's flat denial of any attempt to frame him — the sole substantive exchange in this brief recross.

“Absolutely not.”

— Wendi AdelsonWendi's unambiguous denial that she tried to frame Jeffrey Lacasse, delivered in direct response to Rashbaum's pointed question — the clearest statement in an otherwise brief exchange.

People Mentioned

Jeffrey Lacasse Craig IsomJane McPherson

Deep Analysis

Attorney Strategy

Framing defense — Lacasse named by detective, not Wendi

Rashbaum used the recross to lock in Wendi's confirmation that she did not volunteer Lacasse's name in the police interview — the detective did — preempting any suggestion that Wendi deflected suspicion onto him.

Witness Role And Importance

Witness Role And Importance

Wendi Adelson, Dan Markel's ex-wife and Charlie Adelson's sister, was briefly recrossed following a prosecution recall. This recross was limited to a single evidentiary point about who introduced Lacasse's name in the initial police interview.

Redirect Wendi Adelson

Cappleman's four-question redirect confirmed that detective Jane McPherson, not Wendi Adelson, introduced Jeffrey Lacasse's name in the July 18, 2014 police interview; Judge Everett then dismissed Wendi subject to subpoena.

Case Significance

Procedurally confirmatory micro-redirect; no new facts introduced. Cappleman confirmed what Rashbaum's recross had already established, and Wendi Adelson's testimony concluded.

No new exhibits, rulings, or contested exchanges.
Prosecution acknowledged through its own questioning that McPherson, not Wendi, introduced Lacasse's name.

Highlights

“Jane McPherson brought him up.”

— Wendi AdelsonConfirms under prosecution re-examination that detective Jane McPherson, not Wendi, introduced Jeffrey Lacasse's name in the July 18 police interview — corroborating the defense recross narrative while placing the fact on the record through Cappleman's own questioning.Procedural

Judge Everett dismisses Wendi Adelson subject to subpoena, concluding her multi-day testimony arc across Days 1 and 2 of the trial.

People Mentioned

Jeffrey Lacasse Dan MarkelJane McPherson

Deep Analysis

Attorney Strategy

Prosecution locks in McPherson-introduced-Lacasse through own questioning

Rather than contest the defense's recross narrative, Cappleman confirmed through her own questioning that detective McPherson raised Lacasse's name — placing the prosecution's acknowledgment on the record and foreclosing any later implication that Wendi had volunteered a suspect unprompted.

Evidentiary Or Procedural Notes

Wendi dismissed subject to subpoena

Judge Everett dismissed Wendi Adelson after both sides indicated they did not expect to recall her, though she remained under subpoena per the court's standing order.

Witness Role And Importance

Witness Role And Importance

Wendi Adelson is Dan Markel's ex-wife and Charlie Adelson's sister, testifying under use immunity. Her multi-proceeding testimony covered the Adelson family's documented obsession with relocating the children, Charlie's hitman joke, an 18-minute call with Charlie the morning of the murder, and her approach to the crime scene. This micro-redirect concluded her testimony arc.

Summary

Wendi Adelson's testimony concluded through three brief proceedings. Cappleman recalled her to place denials on the record directly contradicting Jeffrey Lacasse's proffer — an account the court had excluded from his substantive examination on fundamental fairness grounds — in which Lacasse alleged Wendi told him Charlie had explored hiring a hitman at a cost of $15,000 or $50,000, and had referred to a post-murder dinner as a celebration dinner. Wendi denied both allegations. Rashbaum's recross narrowed to a single point: that in Wendi's July 18, 2014 police interrogation it was detective Jane McPherson, not Wendi, who raised Lacasse's name. Wendi confirmed Lacasse was treated as a suspect, that Detective Isom questioned her about his car and travel schedule, and that she provided his contact information at police request. She denied having volunteered his name or attempted to direct suspicion toward him. Cappleman's redirect confirmed the same sequence — McPherson introduced Lacasse's name during the July 18 interview, the same session in which Wendi was first told of Dan Markel's death. Judge Everett then dismissed Wendi Adelson subject to subpoena, closing a testimony arc that had run across Days 1 and 2.

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