Charlie Adelson trial Day 4: Focus shifts to evidence trail in Dan Markel murder | LIVE

Elena Barrera and Jeff Burlew, Tallahassee Democrat

The murder trial for Fort Lauderdale periodontist Charlie Adelson continues on its fourth day in a Leon County courtroom. Adelson is accused of orchestrating one of Tallahassee’s most shocking crimes — the murder-for-hire killing of Florida State University law professor Dan Markel.

Adelson, is accused of orchestrating the murder and paying two Miami men, Luis Rivera, a Latin Kings gang leader, his close friend, Sigfredo Garcia, to carry out the hit. Rivera, Garcia and Adelson's former girlfriend, Katherine Magbanua, the other of Garcia's children, have already been convicted in the murder.

Magbanua admitted to a litany of lies in past trials during testimony Monday, but insisted she was telling the truth now as she testified that Adelson arranged and paid for the hit.

"I believe that the truth needed to come out now so that the family can get some type of closure," Magbanua said

Court resumes Tuesday with cross-examination Sgt. Chris Corbitt of the Tallahassee Police Department. He is supervisor of the Technical Operations Unit, which examined cellphone records in the Dan Markel case.

Scroll on for live updates from the courtroom.

Daniel Rashbaum cross examines TPD Sgt. Chris Corbitt

During the first day of his testimony, Tallahassee Police Sgt. Chris Corbitt walked the jury through numerous examples of text messages and call logs that began in May 2014.

Daniel Rashbaum said Adelson was arrested in 2022 and asked if any of the data in yesterday's presentation was new or different than what TPD acquired back when they first investigated the case. Corbitt said no, everything he has now is what he had then.

"Are you sure that when you did this report you received every message included in Adelson's iCloud?" Rashbaum asked.

"I do believe," Corbitt said.

Corbitt testified that they look at frequency reports to help identify coconspirators. Adelson had significant amounts of communication with Katherine Magbanua, Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia — the three who have previously been convicted for the murder of Dan Markel.

But Rashbaum countered saying that just because a boyfriend or a son communicates a lot doesn't inherently make him a coconspirator. Corbitt agreed.

Adelson used his cellphone, never a landline, pay phone or another person's phone, Rashbaum said. He asked Corbitt if he said that people tend to use landlines when trying to hide information, but Corbitt clarified and said he testified that there is a perception that landlines are more safe than cell phones.

"On all of the calls to the Adelson landline are they all from Charlie Adelson’s cellphone?” Rashbaum asked.

“Yes, we were looking at Charlie Adelson’s cellphone,” Corbitt said.

Court recesses after juror askes to speak to the bailiff

In the middle of Corbitt's testimony, a juror raised his hand asking to speak with the bailiff in private. Moments later, the bailiff returned and consulted with the judge.

Judge Stephen Everett announced to the gallery that murmuring and whispering is preventing them from listening to the testimony.

"Nothing is to distract the jurors from the job at hand," he said.

Everett also announced that the gallery cannot nod or indicate they agree with any testimony as the trial proceeds because it could impact the jury's perception.

Examination of Corbitt continues

Rashbaum pointed out that investigations focus on messages and calls from dates that events occurred.

"Was it common on days where events didn't occur that Charlie Adelson almost always spoke to his girlfriend?" he asked.

"Yes," Corbitt said.

Assistant State Attorney Sarah Kathryn Dugan took over questioning and presented records from Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson's divorce case.

Based on the records, both May 2 and 7 had significant events going on in the case, Dugan said.

State calls its next witness, Oscar Jimenez

Oscar Jimenez, the retired FBI agent who went undercover during "the bump" operation of the case, explained that a bump is an investigative tool where an agent or officer makes contact with a person of interest during an investigation.

The goal is to extract information, give information or set up future meetings with that person, he said.

In this case, Jimenez posed as a Latin King gang member- the gang that convicted hitmen Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera were a part of - and approached Donna Adelson to "engage in a conversation with her."

Jimenez acknowledged he was trying to "act like" a Latin Kings gang member in his call with Charlie Adelson.

"Quite frankly I was instructed not to be so gang-like with Donna. To be polite," he said.

He handed her a flyer and told her Katherine Magbanua and Sigfredo Garcia were being "taken care of," referring to their payments.

The bump" happened on April 19. "You hoped that phone calls would happen or someone would pay the money?" Rashbaum asked. "That was the intention," Jimenez said.

Second FBI agent Louis Bronstein takes the stand

The state called Louis Bronstein to testify about the Dolce Vita operation He was one of two special agents who went to the crowded and noisy restaurant in April 2016 to secretly record a conversation between Charlie Adelson and Katherine Magbanua.

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: WATCH LIVE: Charlie Adelson trial Day 4 | Dan Markel murder

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