Rivera and Magbanua return to Tallahassee ahead of Donna Adelson's murder-for-hire trial

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Two key witnesses in the murder and conspiracy trial of Donna Adelson have returned to Tallahassee ahead of her trial.

Co-defendants Luis Rivera and Katherine Magbanua were booked into the Leon County Jail on Monday, LCSO records show.

The two are expected to testify against Donna Adelson, who was last tried for the 2014 murder of her former son-in-law, FSU professor Dan Markel.

The judge also signed a transportation order for Charlie Adelson to return to Tallahassee in time for his Sept. 17 trial. At last check, he had not arrived and it is unclear whether he will be called to testify against his mother.

All three – Rivera, Magbanua and Adelson – have already been convicted of the contract killing. The same goes for the shooter, Sigfredo Garcia.

Rivera is serving a 19-year prison sentence in exchange for his testimony against the other four co-defendants in the case.

Magbanua denied any involvement in the plot until she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. She later became a key witness and testified against her ex-boyfriend Charlie Adelson at his trial in 2023. She is expected to do the same at Donna Adelson's trial.

A final pretrial hearing is scheduled for this Thursday, September 12, and jury selection is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 17.

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