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Dan Markel— Case Archive
personpersonKeith LelandKeith LelandCreative Preschool employee who recalled a grayish-green or silver Prius during Dan Markel’s July 18 drop-off, but could not see inside or identify any occupant.← All People
Witness

Keith Leland

Courtroom still of Keith Leland.

Creative Preschool employee who recalled a grayish-green or silver Prius during Dan Markel’s July 18 drop-off, but could not see inside or identify any occupant.

AppearedGarcia–Magbanua
74 lines·6 proceedings

About

In Garcia and Magbanua's 2019 joint trial, Keith Leland testified on Day 4 about Dan Markel's visit to Creative Preschool on the day of the homicide. He placed the visit at about 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. and testified that, after hearing a door open, he saw a Prius outside the building and later noticed that it had left.

Leland identified photographs of the preschool that the court admitted as State's Exhibits 50 and 51. His testimony connected the timing and location of Markel's visit with the vehicle observation, but he did not claim to have watched the Prius continuously.

Defense questioning examined the limits of that observation. Leland said the Prius's tinted rear windows prevented him from seeing inside and that he did not see anyone get out. He also acknowledged that parents did not always sign children in and out of the preschool and that he could not honestly remember whether Markel dropped off his children on June 5.

In response to juror questions, Leland clarified that the Prius was on preschool property and distinguished its color from a parent's Prius. On follow-up, he explained that police initially contacted the preschool to ask whether the children were safe and that he discussed seeing the green Prius only during a later conversation with Cappleman.

Trial Record (6)

GMGarcia–MagbanuaSep 26, 2019 – Oct 11, 2019Called by prosecution

In Garcia and Magbanua's 2019 joint trial, Keith Leland testified on Day 4 about Dan Markel's preschool visit and a Prius he observed outside Creative Preschool. Defense questioning addressed the limits of his view and the completeness of the preschool's attendance records.

Day 4

DirectKeith Leland - DirectKeith LelandGeorgia Cappleman3highlights37lines spoken

Summary

Keith Leland described Markel's preschool visit on the day of the homicide and his observation of a Prius outside the building.

Highlights (3)

testimony highlightLeland testified that Dan Markel came to Creative Preschool on the day of the homicide, arriving around 9:45 to 10:00 a.m. and taking his children to the deck.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Quote“He didn't come directly in the front door. He went through our side door because we were finishing up breakfast and everybody was outside on what we call the playground.”— Keith LelandPlaces Markel at the preschool on the morning of the homicide and describes his entry route.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossKeith Leland - CrossKeith LelandSaam Zangeneh2highlights8lines spoken

Summary

Leland said he could not see the Prius occupants and saw no one get out of the vehicle.

Highlights (2)

Quote“No, I could not see inside of the car because the back window was tinted. And like I had mentioned earlier, it was facing towards Tharpe Street.”— Keith LelandLeland stated the limits of his ability to identify anyone inside the Prius.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossKeith Leland - CrossKeith LelandChristopher DeCoste2highlights14lines spoken

Summary

Leland described the preschool's attendance-record practices and acknowledged occasional missing parent signatures.

Highlights (2)

Quote“Correct, when parents do what they are supposed to do and sign them in and out. We occasionally don't get people to do it all of the time, but most of the time.”— Keith LelandQualifies the completeness of the preschool's routine sign-in and sign-out records.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶