Florida Dentist Found Guilty in Murder of Former Brother-in-Law
Charles Adelson, a Florida dentist, has been convicted of the murder of his former brother-in-law, law professor Dan Markel, who was married to Adelson’s sister, Wendi Adelson.
The murder took place in July 2014, and it was a result of a bitter custody battle between Markel and Wendi Adelson.
Markel was shot twice in the head at close range, and Adelson has now been found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation of first-degree murder after a unanimous verdict from the jurors.
Bitter Custody Battle and Tragic Outcome
The divorced couple, Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson, were embroiled in a contentious custody battle involving their two young sons.
Wendi sought to move to South Florida to be closer to her family, but a judge ruled that she needed Markel’s consent, which he refused to grant, preventing her from relocating the children.
Allegations of Paid Hitmen and Conspiracies
Prosecutors presented their case, alleging that Charles Adelson paid to have Dan Markel, a prominent law professor, killed.
They argued that Adelson used his girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, to hire Sigfredo Garcia, the father of her two children, to commit the murder.
Garcia, in turn, enlisted his childhood friend, Luis Rivera.
Magbanua and Garcia were both convicted of first-degree murder, while Rivera received a 19-year sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for his testimony against them.
Tragic Shooting and Verdict
Dan Markel was shot in his car outside his home, just after dropping off his children at daycare and going to the gym.
The verdict was delivered, finding Charles Adelson guilty of the crime, leading to his visible reaction in the courtroom.
The victim’s family expressed a sense of relief after the long ordeal.
Adelson’s Testimony and Prosecution’s Rebuttal
In a nine-year-long case with numerous twists and turns, Charles Adelson took the stand during the trial as the sole defense witness.
He testified that he was a victim of extortion and denied any involvement in the murder.
Adelson claimed that he was shocked when Magbanua told him her friends were the actual killers and demanded a substantial sum of money to spare his life.
However, prosecutors argued that there were significant inconsistencies in Adelson’s testimony during closing arguments.
Protracted Legal Battle
The case to bring justice for the slain law professor involved four arrests and three trials over a span of nine years, reflecting the extensive legal battle to uncover the truth.
This conclusion sums up the lengthy legal process and the challenges in seeking justice for the victim.