Dan Markel murder: State rests after 5 days; Charlie Adelson will testify Thursday | RECAP

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The trial of South Florida dentist Charlie Adelson, who is accused of orchestrating the 2014 murder-for-hire killing of law professor Dan Markel, enters its fifth day of testimony today.

Pat Sanford, a veteran FBI special agent who worked closely in the investigation of Adelson, his family and the three people already convicted in the murder plot, will return to the stand when court resumes in the morning.

On Tuesday, Sanford testified about "the bump" operation in April 2016, in which an undercover agent posing as a Latin Kings gang member and blackmailer approached Donna Adelson outside her Miami condo. That set off a flurry of communications between suspects, whose phone calls were being monitored.

It also prompted a meeting the next day at the Dolce Vita restaurant in Miami where Adelson and his former girlfriend, Katie Magbanua, met to discuss what had happened and how to handle the "blackmailer." Magbanua and the two hit men, Sigfredo Garcia, her common law husband, and Luis Rivera, have already been convicted in Markel's murder.

Scroll on for live updates from the courtroom.

State questions Pat Sanford about the Dolce Vita recording and following phone calls

Charlie Adelson called his mother, Donna Adelson, after the Dolce Vita meeting with Katherine Magbanua. He told his mom he mostly just gave her "dating advice," but Pat Sanford testified that not once did he hear any mention of advice when reviewing the meeting recording.

In another call the same day, Charlie Adelson tells his mom, "I truly would not worry about anything."

Donna Adelson says she hopes her husband has a good day at the office. "I'd like him to have a good night's sleep, so . . ."

Following the calls between Adelson and his mother, the state played a recorded call of a heated argument between Sigfredo Garcia and Katherine Magbanua from April 21, 2016.

Magbanua was upset with Garcia because she said she feels he never takes care of her.

"I don't feel secure because you always take care of everybody else," she said.

At the end of the call, Garcia said he was going to deal with "the problem."

"What are you going to take care of?" Magbanua asked. "You don't take care of anything."

In the next call, Magbanua is on the phone with Adelson. The two use code words to refer to the blackmailer and the flyer that was given to Donna Adelson during "the bump."

"You don't think alarm bells went off everywhere?" he asked.

"It seems to be one or two scenarios . . ." she said.

Magbanua said she thought the amount seemed low. Adelson agreed. The two discussed "tenants," which means the blackmailer according to a key the state created, and "rental properties," which means paying the blackmailer.

"I did make a couple of phones calls like last night to find out . . . if this was a good deal, and I'll find out more, because like I said, I don't want anybody to get taken advantage (of) . . ." Magbanua said.

After analyzing the former couple's conversation, the state played a video recording from when Adelson met with his father, Harvey Adelson, at the Miami sushi bar Matsuri.

An FBI agent sat next to the two men at the sushi bar, capturing part of the conversation.

Later, another phone call between Magbanua and Adelson five days after Dolce Vita was presented. Adelson asked her to meet him at their building, The Icon.

Do me this one favor, just come down here . . . so I can see you," Adelson said.

"Is everything okay?" Magbanua said.

"Yeah," he answered.

Yet another phone call between Charlie and Donna was played. Charlie attempted to ease Donna's mind about "the blackmailer."

"You didn't do anything to anybody," he said.

"I thought it was important enough that I needed to speak with you," she said.

He told his mother that if somebody was going to harm her they wouldn't be out in the open showing their face and giving out cellphone numbers.

Magbanua forwarded the undercover agent's number to Garcia over another phone call the state played. She told Garcia this was the number for something related to one of her "properties."

Sanford testified that the number she spouted off to Garcia was the exact number for the undercover agent, and at the point that call was made, nobody had called the agent.

Another "bump"

Another "bump" was initiated after nobody had called the undercover number. The agent under the name "Sammy" called the Adelson Institute asking to speak with Donna Adelson.

A receptionist answered and took a message. She asked who was calling.

"Sammy, who met her last week and gave her some paperwork," he said. "She knows what it's about."

The receptionist recorded the number, 350-712-6570, and said she would pass along the message.

"Just tell her it's very important and I need to find out immediately what she thinks about the paperwork," he said.

Donna immediately called Charlie after learning the undercover agent called. He said again that he wouldn't worry at all "especially because you know who it is."

Charlie then called Magbanua catching her voicemail several times before finally getting her on the phone.

"I don't know what to tell you but I called that number myself . . . and nobody picked up," she said.

"Find out who the (explicative) it is because the other phone call is going to be the FBI," he said.

Magbanua argued that she called the number already and it's clearly a "non-working number." She told Adelson to get the number of who called the office because the one she has doesn't work.

“If somebody is messing with you, they’re messing with me," Adelson said. "If somebody is messing with me they’re messing with you. It’s one in the same.”

He told her the office doesn't have caller ID so she needs to just call the number he gave her.

"You go ahead and you (explicative) find a (explicative) phone and you call," she said.

Sanford testified that Adelson called the undercover number following his conversation with Magbanua.

The state played a recording of the call with the undercover agent.

"Hello?" Adelson asked. "Who is this? Someone has been calling my family and I'm trying to figure out who this is."

The agent explained to Adelson that his brother hadn't been taken care of.

"The lady already has the paperwork," he said. "She knows what I'm talking about. This ain't going away."

Adelson hung up with the agent and called Magbanua back detailing his conversation.

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman notes that both Adelson and Magbanua mentioned going to the FBI.

"Has anybody called any law enforcement to report this?" she asked.

"No," Sanford said.

Magbanua then texted and called Garcia. Garcia said he called the number and got a message. Sanford testified that he and the "blackmailer" never spoke.

Phone calls continue to be presented

After the jurors returned to the courtroom from lunch, the state continued with their parade of phone calls. The first was a call between Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua. The two were discussing a "birthday present," and Adelson kept asking Magbanua to check it to make sure it was an appropriate gift.

Then Adelson called his mother, Donna Adelson to work out a time to see her after another "bump" message was sent to her.

The text read: "So you don’t take me serious u thinking I’m plaing? U have some (person) call me to see if I’m for real? If you think what Kadie's baby daddy did for u can’t come back ur f----- crazy. I want the money now or I’m going after the 100k.”

"I don't want to wait . . . and then you wait and something that could have been nipped in the bud early . . ." Adelson told his mom.

Agent Pat Sanford testified that this call was consistent with the timing of the "bump" text.

"At any time does Donna or anyone in this case text the undercover and do that?" Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman asked.

"Nope, they did not," Sanford answered.

Adelson called Magbanua to tell her about the text. He told her that the only name mentioned was her name and that it came from the same number.

"I could care less, I just don't want the person to stop harassing my family," Adelson said.

Adelson said his one fear is that in the 1% chance it's actually a bad guy, he can't protect his parents at all times.

On May 6, Donna Adelson called the undercover number three times, Sanford said they spoke once.

"I didn’t understand what you were talking about, I didn’t call you back," she said. "Then you mailed me a threatening letter. Then you sent a text message to my phone that I’m not taking you seriously. I am taking you seriously."

The agent explained to her that his brother told him everything while they were both in jail together.

"All that’s being asked for is $5,000," He told me everything. I know everything. I know who’s involved."

"Well I don't," she said. "I'm telling you it's not me."

"Do it and get it to me," he said as he hung up.

Cappleman then asked Sanford, "Does anybody report what's been happening to law enforcement?"

"No not at all," he responded.

Daniel Rashbaum takes over for cross examination

Daniel Rashbaum points out that Sigfredo Garcia mentioned using a burner phone on the call recordings. He then said there was no evidence that Charlie Adelson ever used a burner phone.

"We were never able to establish that," Pat Sanford said.

Sanford also testified that Adelson never tried to flee after speculation of his involvement hit the media. He said Adelson often traveled to countries where extradition is "tough."

"He always came back, right?" Rashbaum asked.

"Correct," Sanford said.

Rashbaum asked him about Magbanua's decision to cooperate with prosecutors after she got life in prison in Dan Markel's murder. Sanford was present during two meetings with her.

"You didn't believe her?" Rashbaum asked.

"I didn't believe ..." he said before state objected.

"What you are telling us just doesn't make sense. Do you recall telling her that?" Rashbaum asked.

"Yes," Sanford said.

Rashbaum then moved on to discuss the "bump." Sanford confirmed that Donna Adelson told the undercover to call the police if he knew something, but she or Charlie didn't call the police either.

"You don't know why he didn't go to the police," Rashbaum said pointing to Adelson.

Sanford smiled and shrugged saying, "Can't read his mind."

State rests, defense calls its first witness

Pat Sanford was the state's final witness, and the defense's first witness took the stand. The defense called Kristin Adamson, Wendi Adelson's divorce lawyer.

She testified that relocation requests, like the one Wendi requested, are filed frequently. Adamson thought she stood a chance at being granted the relocation.

When the court denied her relocation request, she seemed calm and understanding that it wasn't a given and usually a "long shot," Adamson said.

She also testified that it's fairly common for a spouse to offer to pay their ex-spouse money to keep them from relocating.

"Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't," she said.

Like most people, Wendi was relieved when the divorce case was finally settled, Adamson testified. But even after the divorce was final, issues still arose.

"Lots of people don't get along well after a divorce," she said.

Dan Markel filed multiple motions following the divorce, but during the third motion, Adamson withdrew herself because she said she knew she'd have to testify.

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman took over questioning and when asked if Adamson had contact with Donna Adelson, she testified that the only communication she had with her was at the relocation hearing. She said her contact with her was "almost none."

Charlie Adelson will testify tomorrow

Charlie Adelson chose to testify. Day five of the trial ended early and will be continued tomorrow with Adelson's testimony on the stand.

Judge Stephen Everett put him under oath and made sure he understood his rights. He still has the ability to change his mind.

Chronicling the case:

GAVEL-TO-GAVEL COVERAGE:

The Tallahassee Democrat will livestream each day of the trial of Charlie Adelson from the courthouse in Tallahassee. Watch on Tallahassee.com and the Tallahassee Democrat's Facebook and YouTube pages. For best viewing experience: Download the Tallahassee Democrat app to watch and receive text alerts on when to watch – from opening arguments to the verdict.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: RECAP: Charlie Adelson trial Day 5 for the murder of Dan Markel