Donna Adelson Trial: Friend Testifies Donna Was “Hysterical” After Dan Markel’s Murder

Donna Adelson Trial: Friend Testifies Donna Was “Hysterical”
After Dan Markel’s Murder

In the Trial of Donna Adelson, the defense called their very
first witness to the stand: longtime family friend Anne
Elizabeth Cunningham. With roots tracing back to her
friendship with Donna and Harvey Adelson since 2009, Cunningham
painted a picture of Donna not as a criminal mastermind, but as a
distraught mother and grandmother in shock after Dan Markel’s
murder.

Cunningham testified that Donna was “quite hysterical” in the
aftermath of Markel’s killing. Her words aimed to humanize Donna,
showing her in a state of emotional unraveling rather than cold
calculation. For jurors, this testimony matters because it’s the
first real glimpse into how the defense plans to counter the
prosecution’s theory that Donna orchestrated the murder-for-hire
plot. By emphasizing Donna’s grief and confusion, the defense is
trying to suggest she was blindsided by the events just like
everyone else.

But there’s more here than just emotion. Every word is carefully
chosen to influence perception. Cunningham’s testimony isn’t just
about character—it’s about planting seeds of doubt in jurors’
minds. Was Donna truly the matriarch pulling strings, or was she
just another family member swept up in tragedy?

This clip captures Cunningham’s full testimony, a pivotal moment
marking the official start of the defense case in one of
Florida’s most closely watched trials.

#DonnaAdelsonTrial #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #CourtroomTestimony
#MurderForHire #AdelsonFamily #DefenseWitness #TrialCoverage
#JusticeForDan #LegalDrama

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