What Happens if Donna Adelson Testifies?
True Crime Today | Daily True Crime News & Interviews
Tony Brueski
4.2 • 612 Ratings
🗓️ 20 August 2025
⏱️ 15 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Most defendants facing first-degree murder charges stay far away from the witness stand — the legal risk is simply too high. But Donna Adelson may be different. In this Hidden Killers episode, we explore the psychology, ego, and strategy behind her apparent willingness to testify in her own defense in the Dan Markel murder trial.
Could this be rooted in confidence, even overconfidence, in her ability to persuade a jury? Does it reflect a need to reclaim control of the story from her attorneys? Or is it part of a broader family strategy to project strength in the face of overwhelming evidence?
Drawing on real-world parallels — from Jodi Arias to Alex Murdaugh — we break down how testimony can either humanize a defendant or destroy their credibility, and how jurors interpret tone, body language, and personality from the witness box.
#DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #Testifying #TrialStrategy #FloridaCrime #WitnessStand #CharlieAdelson #MurderTrial
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | A Better Help ad. |
| 0:02.3 | Lewis Capaldi partnered with Better Help to get word out about how important therapy can be. |
| 0:07.6 | I struggle most weeks to get up, get myself up and ready and go to therapy or whatever. |
| 0:13.0 | Even like to open the laptop to talk to, my therapist sometimes could be really difficult. |
| 0:17.4 | But I do it because I realise how important it is for me to continue to feel |
| 0:21.3 | good. Because I felt the best I've felt in a long time through therapy. |
| 0:25.6 | Learn more about online therapy at betterhelp.com. |
| 0:29.5 | A better help ad. |
| 0:31.5 | Lewis Capaldi partnered with BetterHelp to get word out about how important therapy can be. |
| 0:36.8 | I struggle most weeks to get up, get myself up and ready and go to therapy or whatever. |
| 0:42.2 | Even like to open the laptop to talk to, my therapist sometimes could be really difficult. |
| 0:46.6 | But I do it because I realise how important it is for me to continue to feel good. |
| 0:51.0 | I felt the best I've felt in a long time through therapy. |
| 0:54.8 | Learn more about online therapy at betterhelp.com. |
| 0:58.5 | This is Hidden Killers with Tony Brewski. |
| 1:01.7 | Here now, Tony Bruske. |
| 1:04.7 | One of the most revealing moments in any criminal trial comes before the witness, |
| 1:12.5 | the first witness, is sworn in. |
| 1:15.2 | It is the decision. |
| 1:18.5 | Every defendant has to make. |
| 1:19.7 | Will I testify? |
| 1:24.7 | For most defendants, especially in cases involving serious felonies like first-degree murder, |
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