Criminal Justice
Donna Adelson showed ‘utter lack of remorse’ for law prof’s murder, judge says before sentencing
Donna Adelson listens to statements on Oct. 13 made on her behalf by family friends during her sentencing for her role in the 2014 murder of Dan Markel, a professor at the Florida State University College of Law. (Photo by Alicia Devine/The Tallahassee Democrat via the Associated Press)
A Florida woman convicted last month in the murder of a Florida State University law professor—her former son-in-law—told a judge Monday that she is “an innocent woman convicted of this terrible crime without evidence.”
Donna Adelson, 75, spoke before she was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and an additional 30 years for conspiracy and solicitation to commit murder.
The Tallahassee Democrat and WCTV have coverage.
Adelson asserted that Dan Markel, a professor at the Florida State University College of Law, would be “appalled at the total lack of justice that went on during my trial,” according to the Tallahassee Democrat. She asserted a lack of evidence about her participation in the murder-for-hire plot before the crime and called Markel “a fine and decent man,” according to WCTV.
“If I had become aware of this plan before Danny was murdered, I would have stopped it,” Adelson said.
Judge Stephen Everett of Leon County, Florida, interrupted Adelson to warn her that he can consider her “utter lack of remorse.”
Adelson was convicted Sept. 4 in the July 2014 shooting death of Markel after three hours of jury deliberation. She was accused of plotting the murder with her son, periodontist Charlie Adelson, who enlisted a woman he had been dating as a go-between to hire two hit men to carry it out. Charlie Adelson, his girlfriend Katherine Magbanua and one of the hit men were all convicted of murder, while a second hit man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Prosecutors alleged that the motive for Markel’s murder stemmed from the Adelson family’s “desperate desire” to move Wendi Adelson, Markel’s ex-wife, to South Florida with their children. Wendi Adelson has not been charged; she was not in the courtroom Monday, WCTV points out.
Donna Adelson’s husband, Harvey Adelson, agreed with his wife’s version of events in comments before she spoke. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, his testimony “shocked court-watchers.”
“Donna did not participate in the heinous acts that she was convicted of doing. You’re sending an innocent woman to prison,” he said. “You have taken my wife, and you have taken my life, as well.”
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