Donna Adelson’s Lawyer Pushes To Exclude Divorce Evidence From Trial

After years of delays, Donna Adelson’s trial is finally picking up some speed. She was accused of first-degree murder along with conspiracy and solicitation in the killing of Dan Markel, her daughter’s former husband. As her legal team mounts a defense, they’re trying to mitigate against the evidence that will be used in trial. MSN has coverage:

Donna Adelson’s attorneys filed another motion Wednesday arguing divorce papers between her daughter Wendi and Dan Markel should not be included as evidence in her trial.

In the filing, her lawyers said the over 560-page divorce file has nothing to do with Donna Adelson, or any alleged motivation to conspire to murder her son-in-law, Dan Markel.

The attorneys then suggested the state is using the divorce between Wendi and Markel to support a “false narrative that the divorce was a bitter custody battle.”

The prosecution needs to establish a motive — using the divorce file seems like a very easy way to show that the divorce happened and may speak to matters that, while not directly involving Donna, could have influenced Donna’s decision making. Sure, an attorney representing Donna could doubt the significance of the file, but that seems like an issue that should be determined by a competent jury, no? Even if the divorce wasn’t a bitter custody battle, is it that far fetched to suggest that the divorce played some role in the alleged charges?

Gotta respect going to bat for your client, but chances are that divorce file is getting into evidence.

Donna Adelson’s Attorneys Claim Wendi And Dan Markel’s Divorce File Should Not Be Used As Evidence [MSN]

Earlier: The Murder Of Dan Markel: The Case Against Donna Adelson

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Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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