Of interest to those following this case
I missed this at the time. But apparently the retrial of Katie Magbanua has been postponed till February 14, 2022, to give the defense more time to prepare.
Authorities believe Magbanua was the go-between connecting the hired guns who killed Florida State law Professor Dan Markel with the mother and brother of Dan’s ex-wife Wendi Adelson. The Adelsons apparently wanted Dan our of the way so Wendi (who is not herself a suspect in the crime) could get full custody of their two sons.
One of the hired guns confessed and turned state’s evidence, while the other was convicted in 2019. At that same trial, Magbanua ended up with a hung jury (10-2 for conviction).
The retrial has been delayed by COVID. Prosecutors have chosen not to charge the Adelsons until they convict Magbanua and (they hope) get her to testify against them.
Magbanua has spent the last 2 years in pretrial detention (which I think is unjust even though I also think she is guilty). Meanwhile, Wendi Adelson has cut off contact between the two boys and Dan’s parents, and changed their last names from Markel to Adelson. The whole situation is awful all round.
*Yes, I notice the irony that the retrial is scheduled for Valentine's Day.