A prominent Fort Lauderdale periodontist, Charlie Adelson, was handed a life sentence without parole on Tuesday for orchestrating and funding the 2014 assassination of his former brother-in-law, as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
Judge Stephen Everett imposed the life sentence on Adelson for the contract killing of Dan Markel, his ex-brother-in-law. Phil Markel, the victim's father, participated in the court proceedings via Zoom, pleading with Judge Everett to enforce the severe sentence on Adelson, the Tallahassee Democrat disclosed.
Dans life was abruptly cut short, and he was forever taken away from me, the boys and the rest of his family and all his many friends and colleagues, Phil Markel lamented. My life has been in total disarray since Dans murder. Many nights, I wake up in the middle of the night in a terrible sweat with thoughts of Dans murder and all that has happened.
Before the pronouncement of the sentence, Adelson, 47, addressed the court, maintaining his innocence, WPLG-TV reported. I would just like to say I maintain my innocence, he stated. Adelson, found guilty on November 6 of financing Markel's murder, remained silent as the judge delivered the sentence, the Tallahassee Democrat noted.
The court handed Adelson a life sentence for the initial murder charge, followed by consecutive 30-year sentences for two additional counts, according to the newspaper.
Markel, a professor at Florida State University, was fatally shot twice at close range on July 18, 2014, while in his car outside his residence, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
Prosecutors alleged that Adelson's girlfriend, Katie Magbanua, coordinated the murder by hiring her ex-spouse and his friend, both members of the Latin Kings gang, to execute Markel, the Associated Press reported.
While Adelson's wife was not implicated in the case, his mother was apprehended on November 13 as she and her spouse attempted to board a one-way flight to Vietnam, the Tallahassee Democrat revealed. She is currently in custody and faces identical charges to her son, the newspaper reported.
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