Fil-Am Murder Suspect to Spend Christmas in Jail
Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
A Florida judge has denied the request for bail of a Filipino-American murder suspect to spend the holidays with her family while awaiting her first trial on February 27, 2017.
Katherine Magbanua is accused of serving as a conduit between two alleged hitmen and whoever ordered the killing of Florida professor Dan Markel on July 2014, a plot that authorities say was sparked by a bitter divorce and family conflict.
Magbanua has been charged with first degree murder but she maintains her innocence.
“The state has made it absolutely clear what their intention is and why they are fighting so hard to keep her in custody. Because they are trying to break her. But Katie has maintained her innocence from day 1. So, what this state wants her to do is basically lie to them. That’s what they want,” said Magbanua’s lawyer, Tara Kawass.
Her other lawyer said the same thing.
“They’re not trying to get her to cooperate. They’re trying to get her to lie. They want her to lie. She’s cooperating with the law right now. She’s not committing perjury, but they’re trying to force her. That’s not constitutional. That is not right,” Chris Decoste said.
Markel was shot dead in his garage more than two years ago. The alleged hitmen – Sigredo Garcia and Luis Rivera–were arrested this year. Garcia has two children with the 31-year-old Magbanua. It was Rivera that implicated Magbanua and he got a reduced sentence in return.
Magbanua’s lawyers argue that Rivera is a convicted felon who cannot keep his story straight.
“Not a single thing that Luis Rivera has said or done has not been impeached by other pieces of evidence or other witnesses,” Decoste said.
Chief Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman said: “I acknowledge his (Luis Rivera) inconsistencies. They’re there, but the majority of what he has to say fits with all the other evidence in the case and that’s what’s compelling about his testimony.”
The prosecution points out that the Pinay used to have a romantic relationship with Markel’s ex brother-in-law Charles Adelson.
Markel and Charles’ sister Wendi divorced in 2013. But before it was finalized, the two fought over Wendi’s plan to move her two children from Tallahassee to south Florida to be closer to her family.
Following Markel’s death, Magbanua was reportedly paid more than $10,000 by the Adelson family.
Despite this, authorities say there is not enough evidence to charge any member of the Adelson family. They have also denied their involvement in the crime.
During her bail hearing, Magbanua’s brother, Erik, said his sister will not flee. He said his sister moved from the Philippines to Florida when she was 7 years old, and had not been back there since.
However, the judge didn’t agree.
Magbanua is not expected to cut a deal with prosecutors between now and her trial in February. Her lawyers insist she will prove her innocence.
(Source: ABS-CBN.com)