Donna Aldeson, accused in the 2014 Florida murder-for-hire of her son-in-law, had her trial delayed on the first day of jury selection after her lead attorney withdrew due to conflicts of interest.
Following lawyer Dan Rashbaum’s withdrawal in Tuesday, Judge Stephen Everett continued the trial and dismissed the prospective jurors.
I am not happy,” Everett said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “But at the same time, we’re trying to get this right so we don’t have to do it a second time.”
Donna Adelson reacted emotionally to the news, breaking down in tears in the courtroom. She remained upset as a bailiff escorted her out.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, she’s faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation of first-degree murder in connection with the 2014 killing of her daughter’s husband, Dan Markel.
Police arrested Adelson in November, right before her reported attempt to escape the US to Vietnam, which has no extradition treaty with the US.
On Monday, her son Charlie Adelson’s appellate lawyer, Michael Ufferman, announced that his client would not waive any conflict of interest with Rashbaum, who also represented Charlie.
Charlie Adelson, convicted last year in Dan Markel’s murder, was listed as a state witness in his mother’s trial, raising the possibility of being cross-examined by Rashbaum.
Judge Everett addressed the issue Tuesday morning as jury selection was set to begin.
“At the outset, it is foolish to plunge forward under the circumstances,” Everett said. The conflict has been there. The conflict is clear on its face. It’s as clear as my nose. Is there a reason your client did not assert this until yesterday?”
Niles told Judge Everett the conflict arose on September 11 when Charlie Adelson was subpoenaed to testify and escalated after his September 14 meeting with attorney Ufferman. The issue would occur if the defense questioned him.
Markel, identified as a renowned law professor at Florida State University, was fatally shot while walking into the garage of his Tallahassee home on July 18, 2014.
Charles Adelson hired his former girlfriend, Katherine D. Magbanua, to kill Markel after his sister, Wendi Adelson, lost a bitter custody battle with the victim. Magbanua subsequently hired Sigfredo Garcia (her former lover, who is the father of her children) and his friend Luis Rivera to carry out the hit.
Magbanua, Garcia, Rivera, and Charles Adelson were all subsequently convicted of murder.
Markel’s ex, Wendi Adelson, who denies any involvement and is not facing charges, shared custody of her children with Markel. She wanted to move from Tallahassee to South Florida to be closer to her family, but a judge ruled that she couldn’t move without Markel’s consent.
Before his murder, Markel reportedly refused, expressing concern about the children moving too far away.
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[Feature Photo: Dan Markel/FSU College of Law faculty biographies; Donna Adelson/AP]
