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Dan Markel— Case Archive
personpersonStephen WebsterStephen WebsterFlorida attorney who represented Dan Markel in his custody dispute and testified for the prosecution about the litigation and his communications with Markel on the morning of the murder.← All People
Witness

Stephen Webster

Courtroom still of Stephen Webster.

Florida attorney who represented Dan Markel in his custody dispute and testified for the prosecution about the litigation and his communications with Markel on the morning of the murder.

AppearedCharlie Adelson
45 lines·2 proceedings

About

Stephen Webster testified on Day 2 about representing Dan Markel in a family-law matter and speaking with him on the morning of the murder. He addressed continuing disputes involving the children, alleged parental alienation, and property.

Webster said Markel was not planning to relocate. He also rejected the proposition that a one-million-dollar payment could have resolved a relocation issue. The State questioned him about an attorney's duty to keep a client informed of important developments, and the court allowed that testimony after requiring a foundation concerning his familiarity with the applicable professional-conduct rules.

On cross-examination, defense counsel challenged the scope of Webster's experience by asking about his primarily criminal-defense practice, limited family-law work, and lack of a court appearance for Markel before the killing. Webster also agreed that lawyers may file documents without reviewing every word with a client.

Trial Record (2)

CACharlie AdelsonOct 26, 2023 – Nov 6, 2023Called by prosecution

Stephen Webster testified on Day 2 about representing Dan Markel in a family-law matter, their conversation on the morning of the murder, and disputes involving relocation, the children, and property.

Day 2

DirectStephen Webster - DirectStephen WebsterGeorgia Cappleman6highlights30lines spoken

Summary

Dan Markel's attorney described ongoing family-court conflict, rejected a relocation-payoff scenario, and said Markel was not planning to relocate.

Highlights (6)

Quote“It's untrue. There's a reason he hired me. He didn't retain me because he needed a friend.”— Stephen WebsterWebster directly disputed the suggestion that the family dispute had recently become amicable.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
Show all 6 highlights
Quote“You have a duty to keep your client informed.”— Stephen WebsterWebster stated the professional-duty premise the State used after the court allowed this line of questioning.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
rulingThe court overruled a defense objection after directing the State to establish Webster's foundation to discuss lawyers' professional duties; Webster then testified that Markel was not planning to relocate.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶
CrossStephen Webster - CrossStephen WebsterDan Rashbaum2highlights14lines spoken

Summary

Defense briefly questioned Stephen Webster about his family-law experience and representation of Professor Markel.

Highlights (2)

testimony highlightDefense counsel established that Webster primarily practiced criminal defense, had limited divorce-case experience, and had not appeared in court for Professor Markel before the murder.Open in transcript →Watch this moment ▶