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Dan Markel— Case Archive
personpersonRobert AdelsonRobert AdelsonDonna Adelson's oldest son, a New York physician who testified for the State at her 2025 trial and was mentioned only in passing at the 2022 Magbanua retrial.← All People
Witness

Robert Adelson

Courtroom still of Robert Adelson.

Donna Adelson's oldest son, a New York physician who testified for the State at her 2025 trial and was mentioned only in passing at the 2022 Magbanua retrial.

AppearedDonna Adelson
MentionedMagbanua Retrial
207 lines·11 proceedings·6 mentions·2 trials

About

His testimony provides a family-member account relevant to Donna Adelson's role in family matters, Wendi Adelson's divorce, and conversations after Dan Markel's killing.

Robert Adelson is Wendi Adelson's oldest brother and a doctor in New York. Testimony in magbanua-retrial-2022 described him as estranged from Wendi Adelson and noted that the family had initially objected to, then reconciled with, his marriage. He did not testify in that trial. In donna-adelson-2025, he testified about Donna Adelson's position within the family, her involvement in Wendi Adelson's divorce, and conversations following Dan Markel's killing. His testimony also addressed Donna Adelson's instruction not to speak with law enforcement, while cross-examination explored the frequency and scope of his contact with her.

Trial Record (11)

KMMagbanua RetrialMay 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022

Discussed in testimony as Wendi Adelson's oldest brother, a New York doctor from whom she was estranged; he did not appear or testify.

Day 2

Day 7

DADonna AdelsonAug 22, 2025 – Sep 4, 2025Called by prosecution

On Day 2, Robert Adelson testified about Donna Adelson's role in the family, her involvement in Wendi Adelson's divorce, and conversations after Dan Markel's killing. Cross-examination addressed the limits of his contact with her and the source of advice not to speak with police.

Day 2

DirectRobert Adelson - DirectRobert AdelsonSarah Kathryn Dugan3highlights192lines spoken

Summary

Robert Adelson described family dynamics, Donna Adelson's involvement in wendi Adelson's divorce, and reported post-murder conversations.

Highlights (3)

Quote“No. I think she had certain sort of rigid, fixed ideas or impressions for what she wanted for us, and if you went along with that, things were fine; if you didn't, things were not fine.”— Robert AdelsonRobert Adelson described his view of Donna Adelson's family expectations and control.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
rulingThe court sustained the defense objection to a question about whether Donna Adelson was gullible or easily misled, while allowing inquiry into business operations and other personality traits within the ruling's limits.Open in transcript →
CrossRobert Adelson - CrossRobert AdelsonJackie L. Fulford2highlights15lines spoken

Summary

Robert Adelson described limited contact with Donna and agreed that police-contact advice was relayed through Michael Weinstein.

Highlights (2)

Quote“You know, probably less than once a week, maybe every other week, something like that.”— Robert AdelsonRobert Adelson described the limited frequency of his phone contact with Donna.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶

Day 6

Day 7

Day 9