South Florida matriarch sentenced to life in jail for employed killing of her ex-son-in-law

[ad_1] TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Donna Adelson, the matriarch of a rich South Florida household who was convicted within the employed killing of her former son-in-law, was sentenced Monday to life in jail for her function within the 2014 murder-for-hire of Daniel Markel.

A distinguished Florida State College legislation professor, Markel was locked in a bitter custody battle along with his ex-wife, Adelson's daughter, when he was gunned down in 2014 at his dwelling in Tallahassee.

Adelson, 75, was discovered responsible final month of first-degree homicide, conspiracy and solicitation after a weekslong trial. She was sentenced to life with out the opportunity of parole for the homicide cost, with a further 30 years for the opposite two counts, to be served consecutively. Adelson has pledged to enchantment.

In an emotional assertion forward of the sentencing in a Tallahassee courtroom, Adelson swore she was harmless and solid her trial as a miscarriage of justice, overseen by a jury she stated was unduly swayed by years of detrimental media protection.

“What occurred to Danny is unforgivable. However I'm an harmless lady convicted of this horrible crime with out proof,” Adelson stated.

“I've all the time revered the legislation. I've by no means gotten a parking ticket, However I'll jail for a homicide I didn't commit,” she added.

Circuit Choose Stephen Everett interrupted Adelson a number of occasions, warning her the statements confirmed what he termed an “utter lack of regret" for the crime.

Shackled and wearing a purple jail jumpsuit, Adelson stood attentively whereas Everett handed down the sentence. “You actually can select to disclaim your involvement and keep innocence. The court docket finds the proof on this case is obvious,” Everett stated.

The case had captivated individuals in Florida for greater than a decade amid sordid particulars of a messy divorce, tensions with rich in-laws and custody fights resulting in the killing.

Adelson was the fifth individual sentenced for what prosecutors say was a plot to kill Markel. Amongst these already serving a life sentence for the killing is Adelson’s son, Charles Adelson.

At trial, prosecutors had painted Donna Adelson because the calculated and controlling matriarch of an prosperous South Florida household with the means and motive to orchestrate the killing of the ex-son-in-law she “hated.”

Protection attorneys insisted the state didn’t have enough proof to hyperlink the ageing grandmother to the homicide plot, as an alternative emphasizing the roles performed by others and casting suspicion on two of Adelson’s grownup youngsters. Wendi Adelson denied involvement within the killing and has not been charged.

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Kate Payne is a corps member for The Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points.