Randy Kessler Analyzes Donna Adelson Murder Trial on Closing Arguments with Vinnie Politan
On Closing Arguments with Vinnie Politan, Atlanta family law attorney and Emory Law professor Randy Kessler offered insight into the explosive Donna Adelson murder trial. Prosecutors allege Adelson orchestrated the 2014 killing of her former son-in-law, Dan Markel, to resolve a bitter custody dispute.
Central to the case are secretly recorded calls, undercover “bumps,” and even cryptic family conversations about “paella,” which prosecutors claim were coded references to the murder plot. Kessler, however, cautioned that such evidence cuts both ways. He explained that Donna and her son Charlie’s reactions to undercover operatives could be spun as either guilt or innocent confusion, leaving room for defense arguments.
Kessler noted that without direct proof—such as confessions, clear financial transfers, or weapons—the prosecution risks overreliance on circumstantial evidence and interpretation. His analysis underscored the difficulty of proving conspiracy charges and why the defense may push to frame the case as speculation rather than fact.