DONNA ADELSON "MURDER-FOR-HIRE" PLOT TO KILL DANIEL MARKEL AND WHAT IMMUNITY MEANS IN A CRIMINAL CASE
A murder for hire plot that stunned Tallahassee, Florida and has captured the nation’s attention for more than a decade is front and center again.
Donna Adelson, age 75, is standing trial for conspiracy, solicitation and murder in the July 2014 shooting death of her former son-in-law, FSU law professor Dan Markel.
Her daughter, Wendi Adelson, is testifying against her mother in court and has something called use and derivative-use immunity.
What does this mean?
Use and Derivate Use Immunity means that Wendi can be prosecuted for her relationship or tie to the murder of her former spouse. However, anything she testifies to in court and under oath (either on direct examination or on cross examination) cannot be used against her in a prosecution against her. If she perjures herself, and evidence shows that what she said in Court isn’t true, "all bets are off" and she loses her immunity status.
As a former prosecutor, I am often asked for my thoughts on high-profile criminal cases. My thoughts in this case? The State may ultimately charge Wendi Adelson with conspiracy, but she ultimately will not be held responsible for the murder of her former spouse.
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