Dan Markel murder: Katherine Magbanua turns state witness as Charlie Adelson nears trial

Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat
·2 min read
Katherine Magbanua in court in 2019.
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Convicted Dan Markel murderer Katherine Magbanua is being brought to Tallahassee from prison to give a statement to prosecutors who are seeking a conviction against Markel’s ex-brother-in-law next year.

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman declined to comment on the order to transport Magbanua that was filed Wednesday in Leon County Circuit Court. Her Miami attorneys Chris DeCoste and Tara Kawass also declined to comment.

An order signed by Circuit Judge Robert Wheeler says Magbanua is to be transported on or before Nov. 28-30 to the State Attorney's Office for a proffer. The order indicates Magbanua, who's serving a life sentence in Marion County, will be housed as a state witness in the Leon County Jail.

"Upon completion of the proffer in this cause, the said defendant can be transported back to the Department of Corrections, Florida," Wheeler wrote in his order.

The latest:

Details about what Magbanua could divulge about her involvement with Markel’s former brother-in-law Charlie Adelson and the suspected murder-for-hire plot that killed the acclaimed law professor are unknown.

Also unknown is what bearing testimony against Adelson could have on Magbanua's life sentence.

But it could be a watershed moment for the prosecution in a case that has captivated Tallahassee for years.

What got Katherine Magbanua convicted of Dan Markel’s murder? Here’s what her lawyer said

Reaction: Cheers, empathy and 'Bohemian Rhapsody': Livestream viewers react to Katherine Magbanua verdict

Next step: With Magbanua conviction in Markel murder, prosecutors set their sights toward Charlie Adelson

Magbanua was convicted of being the go-between in the murder-for-hire plot that investigators say was orchestrated and financed by Markel’s former in-laws.

His former brother-in-law, Adelson, is being held in Leon County on first-degree murder, solicitation of murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges in connection with Markel’s July 2014 murder.

Adelson and Magbanua were dating at the time of Markel’s broad daylight shooting. Throughout her trial in May, prosecutors linked her to Adelson, his lucrative Tamarac dental practice and efforts to cover up the plot.

She was convicted for linking the father of her children, Sigfredo Garcia, and his friend Luis Rivera to the orchestrator of the plot, who investigators say is Adelson.

He was arrested in April, nearly six years after Markel’s death, and is expected to go to trial early next year.

A case management conference for Adelson is scheduled for December 2.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Dan Markel murder: Katherine Magbanua turns state witness