In this explosive courtroom clip from the trial of Donna Adelson, convicted hitman Luis Rivera takes the stand to describe his firsthand role in the murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel. Rivera, already serving time for his part in the 2014 ambush-style killing, doesn’t hold back as he walks the jury through the planning, surveillance, and ultimate execution of the murder—bluntly stating that “Wendi wanted her husband dead.”
According to Rivera, he and his partner Sigfredo Garcia traveled from Miami to Tallahassee, tracking Markel for days. Rivera drove the car while Garcia pulled the trigger. He says the money they were paid—bundles of crisp hundred-dollar bills—came from the Adelson family, though he adds a surprising twist: he believed Wendi Adelson was behind the murder, not Donna or her son Charlie. This admission, while helping the prosecution connect the murder to the family, also opens a door for the defense to create reasonable doubt about Donna Adelson’s direct involvement.
Rivera’s testimony is critical to the state's case. Not only does it put the Adelson family at the center of the murder-for-hire plot, but it also injects a level of uncertainty that the defense can exploit. The courtroom was tense as Rivera spoke, his words sometimes mumbled, but his message clear: this wasn’t a random act—it was a calculated hit driven by family tensions and custody battles.
Whether jurors believe Rivera is telling the whole truth remains to be seen, but this raw footage is essential viewing for anyone following this high-profile trial.
#DonnaAdelson #LuisRiveraTestimony #DanMarkelMurder #WendiAdelson #CharlieAdelson #TrueCrimeCourtroom #MurderForHire #FloridaTrial #RawCourtroomVideo #AdelsonFamily
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