Day 7 - September 2, 2025

The court resumed after the State rested and turned to potential defense mid-trial motions.

The parties addressed whether coconspirator statements, including statements attributed to Charlie Adelson, met the requirements for admission.

The court denied the defense request for judgment of acquittal on Counts 1 and 3 after hearing competing arguments over the sufficiency of the State's evidence.

The parties discussed privilege waiver and cross-examination limits for former counsel, defense scheduling, and newly identified jail-related witnesses.

The jury returned to the courtroom and was seated.

A longtime friend described Mrs. Adelson's character and distress, while the court limited hearsay offered to explain Mrs. Adelson's state of mind and travel.

Cunningham's cross-examination tested her recollection of alleged extortion and highlighted her continuing belief that the Adelsons were innocent.

Cunningham said Donna did not describe writing checks or being extorted and said she planned to return for L.A.'S bar mitzvah.

A longtime friend described the Adelsons' distress after Charlie's conviction, temporary travel plans, and a temporary rental-property assistance arrangement.

Gutterson agreed a warrant could affect a return trip and said his discussions about requested assistance were with Harvey, not Donna.

Digital-forensics examiner Kelsey Guay challenged frequency-chart totals in Adelson call records and gave limited cell-site testimony for July 18, 2014.

Guay confirmed parts of the State's phone-record analysis, found no July 18 call to the identified Annie Cunningham number, and described her defense-paid fees.

Guay explained that carrier records do not identify app-based calls and said Donna Adelson's phone had July 18 data sessions.

The sidebar addressed a proposed clarifying question distinguishing ordinary phone calls from third-party application calls after cross-examination.

Guay said Donna Adelson used her phone for ordinary voice calls with other people on July 18, 2014.

Guay testified that Mrs. Adelson's records showed three calls between 8:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. on July 18, 2014.

The defense sought time to assess a newly identified potential witness before deciding whether to disclose and call the person, while the court discussed the anticipated afternoon witness schedule.

Cunningham said she often used WhatsApp or Viber to communicate with Mrs. Adelson.

Cunningham accepted phone calls reflected in the record and revised her account of the July 18 app communication from WhatsApp to Viber.

A longtime friend described the Adelsons' distress after Charlie's conviction and said he helped explain their November 2023 travel planning.

Cappleman tested Shagran's account of suggesting a one-way flight against his prior deposition description of his role as a technology conduit.

Shagran said he made travel suggestions for the Adelsons but did not make their decisions.

Defense investigator Tehronna Khan denied that her interview with Patricia Byrd involved alleged benefits from Donna Adelson or a confession.

Khan said her unrecorded jail interview with Ms. Byrd was conducted at defense counsel's direction and without a request to record it.

Khan said she took handwritten notes during her interview with Ms. Byrd and could have produced them through discovery.

Defense investigator Eddie Varnes described an unrecorded 2024 jail interview with Patricia Byrd and testified that she did not attribute offers, a confession, or instructions to Donna Adelson.

The State examined why Eddie Varnes's interview with Patricia Byrd was unrecorded and what follow-up he took afterward.

Varnes reaffirmed his account of Patricia Byrd's statements and said he understood she had been listed as a defense witness by prior counsel.

The court addressed whether the next witness was a fact witness and why he had been present in the courtroom.

Realtor Tim Kelly described a 2011 Tallahassee home search for Donna and Harvey Adelson and said prior courtroom testimony did not affect his account.

Kelly confirmed the 2011 timing of a home search for Donna and Harvey Adelson.

Detective Josh Turner authenticated a silent jail video showing Bernhardt and Mrs. Adelson conversing and writing, while the defense emphasized that its content could not be determined.

Turner connected Bernhardt's reported notebook instructions to the jail video, while acknowledging he was not a handwriting expert.

Turner agreed the jail video had no audible discussion and testified that the State Attorney's Office collected materials Drina brought to its meeting.

The court and counsel discussed the remaining defense witnesses, time to review admitted exhibits with the defendant, and notice and deposition planning for a possible new witness.