Day 6 - August 29, 2025

Judge Everett resolved audio and photograph discovery issues, finding the late photograph disclosure trivial and nonprejudicial.

The court directed counsel to approach for an off-the-record sidebar discussion.

The sidebar addressed Fulford's ability to continue examining witnesses and whether Bernhardt's recordings could be triggered by the defense's planned cross-examination.

Sanford testified about Magbanua's proffers, a recorded call discussing international travel, Donna Adelson's airport arrest, and a 2014 planner listing Dan Markel's vehicle tag number.

Sanford acknowledged limits in the investigation's direct evidence, described wiretap monitoring and Donna Adelson's airport arrest, and agreed Magbanua had lied in earlier trials.

Sanford addressed the extortion account, travel timing, and recorded-call context; the court sustained one objection to a probable-cause question.

Donna Adelson confirmed under oath that she understood and consented to the defense strategy for cross-examining two upcoming State witnesses.

The court placed on the record that defense counsel’s cross-examination of Special Agent Sanford was not compromised by the previously discussed sidebar issue.

Detective Grossman authenticated and the court admitted photographs, Vietnam visas, and day-planner-page copies from the 2023 search of Donna Adelson's residence.

Grossman was questioned about the residence search's scope and documentation, including his limited recollection of a dog alert, a safe, and luggage.

Patricia Byrd described alleged jailhouse admissions by Donna Adelson and an alleged request to give investigators a false account involving Katherine Magbanua.

Defense questioned Patricia Byrd about differing prior accounts of investigators' visits and her recollection of time housed near Mrs. Adelson.

Patricia Byrd clarified her jail contact with Donna Adelson and repeated her account of an alleged affirmative response to an accusation.

Bernhardt identified an admitted notebook script she said Donna Adelson prepared for testimony about Katherine Magbanua and described alleged benefits connected to it.

Bernhardt was cross-examined about cooperation, criminal exposure, her contact with Donna Adelson, and the script she said Adelson wrote.

Bernhardt said she had no current plea offer, hoped for a future one, and denied supplying the story used in the script she attributed to Donna Adelson.

The parties discussed how to address the undisputed authorship of a script and whether it should be presented to the jury.

FDLE handwriting examiner Kate Butler identified Donna Adelson's purported known writing as the source of the questioned handwriting in State's Exhibit 62.

Defense waived cross-examination of Kate Butler and said it did not contest its client's authorship of the document.

The parties discussed whether defense arguments denying compensation offers would permit additional evidence concerning Bernhardt and Exhibit 134.

Corbitt presented message and phone-record evidence concerning the extortion account, WhatsApp communications, and post-verdict Vietnam visa and travel-related records.

Defense elicited limits on travel-related inferences and message access; Corbitt said he knew of no overseas asset transfers and no evidence Mrs. Adelson knew the content of Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua communications.

Corbitt clarified the timing of a 2016 article, described urgency in visa-related communications, and the court admitted the Spireon GPS certification without objection.

The State rested its case.