SC - Paul Murdaugh,22 & Mom Margaret,52, 7 June 2021 *Media, Maps, Timeline-NO DISCUSSION*
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CCSO Initial Police Report:
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Friends remember homicide victim Maggie Murdaugh on her birthday
Loved ones feel homicide victims Margaret and Paul Murdaugh are lost in the major, complex Murdaugh story.
www.blufftontoday.com
9/16/21
In light of the many recent, controversial events surrounding the Alex Murdaugh family of South Carolina, something seems to have been forgotten lately.
There are people who are dead. They must be remembered. And justice must be served.
Today, Sept. 15, would have been Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh's 53rd birthday. She and her 22-year-old son, Paul, were shot and killed at their home in rural Colleton County on June 7, in a case that has captured international attention and, as of yet, remains unsolved.
[..]
Camille Welch had known Murdaugh for 25 years. Their sons attended school together and spent the summers together. She described Murdaugh as always fun, and always laughing and upbeat. The two Hampton County women often went shopping or to festivals together.
"Maggie has kind of gotten lost in all of this," said Welch. "She was a good friend and I really miss her a lot. Her mom and dad are wonderful people, I feel so bad for them, and I think about them a lot. I know the whole family is going through a lot."
Reahnita Soto Tuten first met Murdaugh because their sons played sports together.
"She is remembered as such a kind and gentle, funny lady who was such a big part of my sons' childhoods, and I’m thankful for that," she said. "She honestly never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was just genuinely so kind. But mostly, she was just so proud of her sons. She was a great mom to them — and to all their friends."
In an earlier statement to The Guardian, not long after Murdaugh's death, Tuten said, "I remember her to be the most loving devoted mother. She was always active in all of their activities and supportive in every way. She was always so hospitable, welcoming, and friendly."
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LIVE BLOG: Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 28: Defense presents closing arguments
3/2/23
Thursday
Judge Clifton Newman started the day by excusing a juror due to improper communication."We have to deal with an issue involving the removal of a juror. A few days ago I received a complaint from a member of the public indicating a juror had engaged in improper conversations with parties not associated with the case," he said.
The female juror was suspected of having conversations about the case. Those individuals she reportedly talked with were interviewed and provided an affidavit regarding the contact that the juror had with them.
Those two people were brought in to chambers with counsel present and a recorded interview was given. A third person was
Dick Harpootlian noted that a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agent who is a witness in the trial conducted the investigation into the juror who discussed the case with outside individuals. He said it's another example of SLED's failures in the case.
The juror was brought in front of the court and publicly dismissed by Judge Newman.
"Despite my order to not discuss the case with anyone outside , that intentionally or unintentionally you've had some discussion with some folks not on the jury which is going to require me to remove you from the jury. You have been by all account great juror, smiles consistently and are seemingly been attentive to the case and performed well," Newman said
"You have been by all accounts a great juror, been attentive to the case, performed well and I'm sure with all the time you invested you intended to continue, or maybe you're ready to go, I thank you for your service. I'm not suggesting you intentionally did anything wrong," he continued.
He said he must replace her in the interest of fairness and integrity of the trial.
Funny note, the juror is asked if she left anything in the jury room. She notes another juror brought in fresh eggs for everyone this morning, and she would like her dozen eggs.
Judge Newman, amused said: "We get a lot of interesting things, but now a dozen eggs. This is certainly interesting."
An alternate was chosen at random to take her place, leaving the court with just one alternate.
Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 28: Closing arguments completed on both sides
Thursday could likely be the last day in the Murdaugh murder trial before the jury begins deliberations.Read More:PODCAST: Murdaugh Day 27 Recap I Unsolved So
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LIVE BLOG: Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 28: Defense presents closing arguments
3/2/23
Thursday
Live embed authored by Drew Tripp.
06:43
Judge Newman announces a juror has been removed for discussing the case and her opinion of the evidence / testimony with outside parties.
- Comment
06:47
Dick Harpootlian notes that a SLED agent who is a witness in the trial conducted the investigation into the juror who discussed the case with outside individuals. He says it's another example of SLED's failures in the case.
- Comment
06:49
Judge Newman notes this juror has been attentive and invested, and hates to see her go -- doesn't question her fairness -- but he must replace her in the interest of fairness and integrity of the trial.
- Comment
06:51
Funny note, the juror is asked if she left anything in the jury room. She notes another juror brought in fresh eggs for everyone this morning, and she would like her dozen eggs.
- Comment
06:52
An alternate, Juror 254, has been chosen to replace the removed juror.
- Comment
06:54
Judge Newman, amused: "We get a lot of interesting things, but now a dozen eggs. This is certainly interesting."
- Comment
06:58
Jim Griffin is beginning the closing argument for the Defense of Alex Murdaugh.
- Comment
06:59
Griffin says he wishes he could ask jury questions during trial, and vice versa. One imperfect thing he feels about the U.S. justice system.
- Comment
06:59
Griffin apologizes for the length of time in advance, but he hopes to answer all their questions with his final argument.
- Comment
07:00
Thanks the jury for their service.
- Comment
07:02
Griffin reminds the jury of their duty to presume innocence, no matter how hard it may be.
- Comment
07:03
Griffin makes the analogy of "instant replay" in sports. The ruling on the field is Alex is innocent until proven guilty. The trial is the instant replay, Unless beyond a reasonable doubt, the call on the field must stand.
- Comment
07:04
Griffin describes reasonable doubt as doubt that causes them to hesitate before a big decision.
- Comment
07:05
"If there's any reasonable cause for you to hesitate to write 'guilty,' then you must write 'not guilty.'"
- Comment
07:10
Griffin concedes Murdaugh being at the scene with a shotgun when deputies arrived made him a suspect. He concedes immediate family members are always in the circle of potential suspects, especially if they found the bodies and called 911.
- Comment
07:11
Griffin begins by criticizing SLED and Colleton County Sheriff's Office for the June 8 press release saying there's no threat to the public, indicating they already decided Alex was the murderer. He thinks it's a fair question that wasn't fairly answered in this trial.
- Comment
07:13
Griffin says SLED failed miserably in investigating the case and failed miserably in fairly attempting to exclude Alex Murdaugh.
- Comment
07:14
Griffin notes how several people -- the fire-rescue chief Mark McRoy, Mark Ball, noting the tire tracks and need to close off the crime scene entrance
- Comment
07:16
Griffin says SLED failed to test hair seen in Maggie's hands, failed to properly fingerprint feed room, failed to properly test the concrete in and around the feed room for footwear impressions. The evidence wasn't preserved, so "we'll never know," he says. Griffin notes DNA samples weren't taken off Maggie and Paul's clothes.
- Comment
07:17
Griffin makes the point DNA, blood samples, etc were extensively taken from Alex's clothes. Why, unless they already decided Alex was the suspect?
- Comment
07:24
Griffin gets into the forensic data on Maggie's phone, and how the phone wasn't properly protected afterward in a Faraday Bag. Griffin says he agrees whoever killed Maggie put her phone on the side of the road, that location services were on, and Alex was adamant with SLED from the beginning their phones and his SUV were never together the night of the murders. Griffin criticizes SLED, saying had they put Maggie's phone in a faraday bag or simply extracted the data earlier, the location data potentially proving Alex's story about the phones would not have been overwritten.
- Comment
07:25
Griffin further goes into how SLED nor the FBI did due diligence in trying to get OnStar data from General Motors off Alex's SUV.
- Comment
07:26
Griffin says after the roadside shooting and Alex's drug problem and thefts were revealed, Alex became an easy target.
- Comment
07:30
Griffin accuses SLED of fabricating evidence re: blood on Alex's shirt in order to secure a conviction. 0-for-74 on confirmatory tests for blood on the shirt in their own lab. That didn't stop SLED from pursuing the indictment using separate test and analysis from an outside expert that they claimed showed high-velocity blood spatter.
- Comment
07:30
Griffin: "They went from Mr. Bloody Shirt leading up to this trial to Mr. Clean during this trial.
- Comment
07:31
Notes SLED wasn't asking about Alex's changes of clothes was "late to the dance."
- Comment
07:32
Griffin notes SLED told the Colleton grand jury they had evidence of the high velocity blood spatter, which they used to secure the indictment. Makes fun of the fact lead investigator David Owen says he didn't know about his own lab's "no blood" test results because he "didn't get the email."
- Comment
07:34
Griffin: "Here we are with a Mr. Clean theory, that he washed off after brutally murdering Maggie and Paul? He takes a hose and washes himself off? He gets in a golf cart, and drives to the house butt naked, I guess?"
- Comment
07:34
Griffin says again the blood spatter evidence was fabricated.
- Comment
07:39
Griffin now talking about the blue rain coat with gunshot residue found at Murdaugh's parents house. Shelly Smith was sure it was a blue tarp, and she saw it laid out on Murdaugh's mother's rocking chair. But then SLED found a blue rain jacket in a closet. Nobody in the family had ever seen it. Notes how SLED lied to John Marvin about where they found it. They showed Shelly Smith the photo of the jacket in the closet, she said it looked like the tarp she thought she saw. They looked alike, but she was sure she'd seen a tarp. Griffin says more fabricated evidence.
Updated: 07:40
- Comment
07:43
Griffin notes how David Owen lied to the grand jury about saying there were four shotguns found inside the house at Moselle loaded with the buckshot / birdshot combo that killed Paul. Griffin notes Owen told Murdaugh the same lie, but said he was allowed to use trickery as law enforcement. Owen said he wasn't trying to trick the grand jury, it was a mistake. People make mistakes all the time. Griffin notes time mistakes like Alex made repeatedly are the most common for people to make.
- Comment
07:44
Griffin glosses over the kennel video showing Alex lied about being the murder scene minutes before Maggie and Paul's deaths.
- Comment
07:45
Griffin says three of the four things used to secure the grand jury indictments for murder weren't true -- bloody shirt, shotgun loading habit, and gunshot residue on the blue coat.
- Comment
07:45
Griffin acknowledges Murdaugh lied about being at the kennels.
- Comment
07:50
Griffin: "We're left with the lie. Alex lied about being down at the kennels. And why did he lie? That's certainly a fair question, and frankly he probably wouldn't be sitting over there right now had he not lied, but he did lie, and he told you why he lied. He said he lied because -- I'll tell you, he lied because that's what addicts do. Addicts lie. He lied because he had a closet full of skeletons and that he didn't want any more scrutiny on him -- which is ironic because, depending on which day of the week, their theory is that he slaughtered his wife and son to distract from an impending financial investigation, but he puts himself in the middle of a murder investigation and he puts himself in the middle of a media firestorm. That's their motive evidence."
- Comment
07:52
Griffin: "But he lied. He lied because his drug paranoia kicked in, and he was clearly in the throes of addiction. He lied for all those reasons, but what he didn't lie for was because he was covering up the fact that he killed Maggie and Paul. That is not the reason he did it."
- Comment
07:52
Griffin plays the dog kennel video.
- Comment
07:53
Griffin shows court nice family photo of Murdaughs.
- Comment
07:54
Griffin notes there's nothing in the video indicating strife, pleasant family conversation. Why would Alex kill Maggie and Paul five minutes later?
- Comment
07:55
Griffin glosses over and somewhat misstates the state's position about the forensic data on the phones. He describes it as the state insinuating that if the phones stop moving, you're dead (which is a gross oversimplification of what the phone data showed was used to illustrate).
- Comment
07:56
Griffin plays recordings of interviews with Blanca Simpson and Roger Davis, pointing out they and others say Alex adored Maggie and had a great relationship with Paul.
- Comment
08:01
Griffin: "The State's theory is there was a storm a'coming, clouds were a'rising, and that his financial house of cards was about to collapse, and he was about to be exposed. And because of that, he does what every rational person would do: GO KILL YOUR WIFE AND SON?! That is their theory of motive. That is their theory of motive. That 'Oh and it worked too, by the way!' Because he killed his wife and son, Jeanne Seckinger quit asking questions for a few weeks. Oh, and the boating case, wooo, 'That won't be worth anything now that his wife and son have been murdered because he's sympathetic!' Have you ever heard of such a thing?"
- Comment
08:02
Griffin says the theory of motive makes no sense. He asks the jury to use common sense. There's no way to look at it and not have reasonable doubt, so the verdict must be not guilty.
- Comment
08:02
Griffin says addicts lie, cheat and steal to keep getting their drug.
- Comment
08:03
Griffin reminds jury the evidence of Alex's thefts and drugs can only be considered for purposes of motive, not character.
- Comment
08:17
Griffin is back from court's brief break, now talking about the ballistic evidence.
- Comment
08:17
Griffin said the State has claimed Maggie and Paul were killed by family weapons, but there's no evidence of that.
- Comment
08:20
Griffin said Waters reenacted a shooting scenario yesterday during his closing argument. He said there's no evidence to support it happening that way.
- Comment
08:23
Griffin said: "Another curious point in Water's closing argument yesterday involves Paul's intuitive talents..." He talks about Paul's "little detective" nickname.
Griffin said there are no facts proving the inference Waters made that Paul found the drugs and was shot by Alex because of that.
What if Paul the detective goes to that source and says, cut it out, you're ruining my family!, Griffin muses.
- Comment
08:24
Griffin is talking about how people mis-remember things, even important facts. That doesn't mean they are lying about it, that's just how they remembered it.
He gives Maggie's sister as an example, saying she misremembered her last communication with her sister.
- Comment
08:25
The same with shelly and the blue tarp, Griffin said. He said Shelly remembered Alex bringing the tarp/coat to his mother's house on a certain day, but Griffin said there's evidence Alex was not in town that day- he was with family elsewhere.
- Comment
08:27
Griffin: "Shelly remembers something, but it's not a blue raincoat and certainly Alex could not have come over there on Wednesday."
He said they're not disputing Shelly's call to her brother after talking to Alex about his alibi later on. They are disputing her account of Alex pushing his different account.
- Comment
08:28
Griffin said the On Star data shows conclusively that Alex drove to his mother's and straight back. There was no stopping to bury bloody clothes, etc.
- Comment
08:31
He refers to the On Star data often as proof of evidence.
Says Alex didn't throw Maggie's phone out the window of his car because if he had, her phone's backlight would have DEFNIITELY turned on. An expert witness the state brought on this week gave testimony contrary to that.
- Comment
08:32
"We wouldn't even be having this discussion if they had secured Maggie's phone," Griffin said, referring to the phone not being put in a secure Faraday bag when collected.
Updated: 08:32
- Comment
08:32
"And now we've got a guy tossing a phone in an office and he doesn't even work for SLED," Griffin said.
- Comment
08:34
Griffin referred to his HBO interview in November of 2022. Griffin said he was on the show and interviewed, but not on tv talking about Alex's murder charges.
John Meadors stands up at this point and objects, saying yes, he did talk about those things in the interview.
- Comment
08:37
Griffin said there's no direct evidence of Alex doing anything guilty. Any evidence is circumstantial only, which still counts, but he said isn't as strong.
He explained to the jury that when they rely on circumstantial evidence, the circumstances must be consistent with each other and when taken together, must point conclusively to the guilt of the defendant. Cannot just be suspicious.
The judge will provide the jury with official documents outlining this.
- Comment
08:38
Griffin said the time of death was only determined by cell phone use, which isn't an accurate indicator.
- Comment
08:40
"There are a number of reasons why Paul would stop using his phone," Griffin said.
He tried to play a clip of Rogan Gibson's testimony but there's an objection from the State about who is on the clip, which was pulled from the court's livestream.
The objection is sustained and Griffin cannot play the clip.
- Comment
08:25
The same with shelly and the blue tarp, Griffin said. He said Shelly remembered Alex bringing the tarp/coat to his mother's house on a certain day, but Griffin said there's evidence Alex was not in town that day- he was with family elsewhere.
- Comment
08:27
Griffin: "Shelly remembers something, but it's not a blue raincoat and certainly Alex could not have come over there on Wednesday."
He said they're not disputing Shelly's call to her brother after talking to Alex about his alibi later on. They are disputing her account of Alex pushing his different account.
- Comment
08:28
Griffin said the On Star data shows conclusively that Alex drove to his mother's and straight back. There was no stopping to bury bloody clothes, etc.
- Comment
08:31
He refers to the On Star data often as proof of evidence.
Says Alex didn't throw Maggie's phone out the window of his car because if he had, her phone's backlight would have DEFNIITELY turned on. An expert witness the state brought on this week gave testimony contrary to that.
- Comment
08:32
"We wouldn't even be having this discussion if they had secured Maggie's phone," Griffin said, referring to the phone not being put in a secure Faraday bag when collected.
Updated: 08:32
- Comment
08:32
"And now we've got a guy tossing a phone in an office and he doesn't even work for SLED," Griffin said.
- Comment
08:34
Griffin referred to his HBO interview in November of 2022. Griffin said he was on the show and interviewed, but not on tv talking about Alex's murder charges.
John Meadors stands up at this point and objects, saying yes, he did talk about those things in the interview.
- Comment
08:37
Griffin said there's no direct evidence of Alex doing anything guilty. Any evidence is circumstantial only, which still counts, but he said isn't as strong.
He explained to the jury that when they rely on circumstantial evidence, the circumstances must be consistent with each other and when taken together, must point conclusively to the guilt of the defendant. Cannot just be suspicious.
The judge will provide the jury with official documents outlining this.
- Comment
08:38
Griffin said the time of death was only determined by cell phone use, which isn't an accurate indicator.
- Comment
08:40
"There are a number of reasons why Paul would stop using his phone," Griffin said.
He tried to play a clip of Rogan Gibson's testimony but there's an objection from the State about who is on the clip, which was pulled from the court's livestream.
The objection is sustained and Griffin cannot play the clip.
- Comment
Dick Harpootlian approaches Griffin and suggests they just play the audio from the clip. The audio is played without further objection.
- Comment
08:42
Another clip, this time from Nolan Tuten, is played.
Both men testify to times Paul wasn't on his phone.
- Comment
08:43
With Tuten, he says in the clip that Paul would put his phone down sometimes when he was working in the kennels/on the farm.
- Comment
08:44
Alex Murdaugh is seen seemingly crying, bowing his head.
Updated: 08:44
- Comment
08:48
Earlier, when first bringing up the issue of time of death being determined by cell phone use only, Griffin made the point that most of the people in the courtroom don't have their phones while there. So, he said, using the State's strategy, if any of them died, their time of death would be determined by the last time they used their phone that day.
- Comment
08:50
Griffin is going through the cell phone evidence presented for the night of the murders.
- Comment
08:54
Griffin says Alex's steps and movements show Alex was stepping "slowly" and not "scurrying around" like Waters had said.
- Comment
08:56
Griffin shows timeline data he believes proves Alex wasn't walking with Maggie's phone on him, given they both didn't record steps at the same time.
- Comment
09:02
Were they killed before Alex left for his mom's house? Griffin said he doesn't know. But he knows Alex wouldn't have heard the shots if he was at the house.
He said the State didn't challenge the acoustics expert that testified to that ^
- Comment
09:03
Griffin is talking about what Alex did when he left Moselle on his way to his mother's house. How he called his son Buster, his brother, then sat with his mother and her caretaker- all things that would have happened after the murders
"He's got no blood on him, he's acting normal like everyday, he's the same ol' Alex."
"Their theory is he just... the people he loved most in the world, he just blew them away."
09:07
The most common sense thing here is there were 2 shooters, Griffin said.
09:15
Griffin says one gun would've been enough, especially with a 10+ round magazine.
09:16
Griffin says the facts aren't consistent with proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
09:17
Griffin brings up the "They did him so bad" vs. "I did him so bad" comment by Alex Murdaugh. He says it points to the bigger question -- What would SLED be saying if there was no video?
09:19
Griffin brings up how the State made a point Alex seemed to show no concern for Buster because he didn't call him after the murders. Griffin says of course Alex wasn't concerned about Buster after the roadside shooting in Sept. 21 because Alex knew it was a staged shooting.
09:21
Griffin plays body camera video of night of shooting showing Alex asking Colleton Sheriff Buddy Hill to get a police officer for Buster in Columbia after the shooting, while also admitting he hadn't called him yet. Murdaugh can be heard saying to his brother, "Randy, what about Buster?" then asking Hill to get him a deputy.
09:23
Griffin says Alex was wrong on times repeatedly, but they weren't lies. Also points out how Alex frequently asked officials to pull records for exact times. Him not remembering exact times isn't proof of anything.
09:25
Griffin says nobody should hold against Alex misremembering the sequence of events at the scene where Alex ran up to the bodies then called 911, then later said he'd been up to them and it was bad while already on the phone.
09:27
Griffin calls back to Waters in State closing saying Maggie was running to her baby. "Alex was running to his baby. And can you imagine what he saw? Is it evidence of guilt that he doesn't remember what the sequencing was in that moment? Is that evidence of guilt, or is that evidence of trauma?"
09:30
Griffin says he's unsure of the State's theory about whether actually went up to the bodies. Is it that he didn't touch them? How could he have their DNA all over his body if he didn't touch them? Griffin says it has to be because he did go up and touch them, further proven by the spot of blood on the Suburban steering wheel and the gun he went and retrieved from the house. (It should be noted Griffin argued earlier during trial that it would be perfectly reasonable for a husband to have his wife and son's DNA on his clothes at any time.)
09:30
Griffin brings up again Alex being in the throes of addiction, and having all these skeletons in his closet.
09:31
Griffin says State has gone to great lengths to convince the jury of guilt through sleight of hand, not actual evidence.
09:32
Griffin reiterates the theory of Alex trying to distract from his other problems by murdering his family and creating more problems is illogical.
09:33
Griffin says Murdaugh would not murder those who meant the most to him.
09:35
Suspicious behavior is not evidence of guilt. The State hasn't met its burden of proof. State wants jury to review facts through the lens of Alex being a monster, but their job is to view him through the lens of innocence. Justice requires a not guilty verdict.
09:38
Griffin [his voice quivering]: "On behalf of Alex, on behalf of Buster, on behalf of Maggie and on behalf of my friend Paul, I respectfully request that you do not compound a family tragedy with another."
The Defense rests.
Alex Murdaugh didn't initially look at or acknowledge Griffin when he walked back to the table, but did pat him gently on the back while they stood for the jury to leave.
09:39
John Meadors will give the State's closing rebuttal. He estimates it'll take no more than 40 minutes.
09:42
Meadors begins by thanking the jury. Now thanking court staff.
09:43
Meadors says jury has been preparing for this moment in this case their entire lives through their lived experiences.
09:44
Meadors says they must decide what's credible and believable.
09:45
Meadors agrees with Griffin, this is a common sense case, and the jury didn't leave their common sense behind when the trial started.
09:46
Griffin starts in on Defense arguments against SLED, saying they fabricated evidence. He notes how he in a past trial dubbed Harpootlian a smoke screen machine, likens this case to an eclipse.
09:47
Meadors finds it offensive that law enforcement didn't do their job while Murdaugh was withholding and obstructing justice by not admitting to being at the kennels.
09:47
Meadors says Murdaugh tried to blame everybody else. Says it's again offensive.
09:48
Meadors circles back to credibility and believability.
09:49
Meadors also noted how good Murdaugh's grandfather Buster had been to him starting out in his career
09:49
Meadors through a story about rain from the first day of trial makes the allusion to circumstantial evidence changing into direct evidence.
09:51
Meadors recalls his mother giving him a copy of the story "The Velveteen Rabbit" when he went off to college, which he says was about learning about how to deal with people and growing up. He says his mother wrote in front of the book "Always be real." Meadors says this case is about Murdaugh "never being real."
- Comment
09:51
Meadors says the defense blames everybody but Alex
- Comment
09:54
Meadors immediately seizes on the video of Alex asking Buddy Hill to get a police officer to Buster, but Meadors points out how that was over 40 minutes after Alex arrived at the scene. He still hadn't called him at that point. He wasn't really worried about Buster or he'd have told him to get to a police station immediately.
- Comment
09:54
Meadors says if Alex was really concerned, he would've told law enforcement to get to his mother's house to protect her -- but he couldn't do that because he hid the guns there.
- Comment
09:56
Meadors seizes on the idea of the boat crash vigilantes. Says nobody was thinking about that boat crash that night -- except Alex. Illustrates the implausibility of the killers also using family guns and committing the murders between the time Alex left the kennels and when he left to go to his mother's house.
- Comment
09:57
Meadors says of malice aforethought, malice is evil wickedness, and it only has to exist for the amount of time it takes to pull a trigger.
- Comment
09:58
Meadors notes the prosecution doesn't have to prove motive, though he thinks they have.
- Comment
09:58
Meadors: "His world's coming down. This was the only way he could save -- it was the only way to save Alex."
- Comment
09:59
Meadors says Murdaugh sounded angry when he called Bubba.
- Comment
10:01
Meadors: "Maybe (Alex) just got angry. Maybe he got angry a Paul. Maybe he got -- 'You know, you started all this with the boat case' -- and maybe he just lost it. Maybe he just lost it."
- Comment
10:02
Meadors again notes they don't need to prove motive. He was just angry and he did it, and they believe they've proven it.
- Comment
10:03
He addresses malice. He says he shot Paul twice and shot Maggie five times. That's clearly malicious. No dispute about malice.
- Comment
10:04
Regarding "reasonable doubt," Meadors says it doesn't mean beyond "all doubt." Beyond doubt which would make a reasonable person pause or reconsider. Sometimes questions are just questions. If you're firmly convinced of guilt despite some doubts, you must find him guilty, Meadors says.
- Comment
10:07
Meadors notes it was so rare for Alex to go by at 9:30 at night to see his mom. Meadors says the data shows he parked near the outdoor kitchen. The State believes that's when Alex went to hide the guns. He didn't go to the house in the afternoon when Barbara Mixson told him he needed to earlier that afternoon.
- Comment
10:08
Meadors: "He wasn't going there because he loves his Mama. He wasn't going to be with her. He was going because he loves Alex. He loves Alex, and he was going there to create his alibi. Use your common sense."
- Comment
10:12
Meadors says how long Alex was actually in his mother's house is important. That's when he was hiding the guns. Shelly said he stayed 15-20 minutes. Then he came back a few days later and asked her if she remembered that he'd actually been there 30-45 minutes. She was so concerned she called her brother. Got very upset on the stand, noted the Murdaughs are good family. Meadors asks if the jury thinks Shelly knew *right then* what the truth is.
- Comment
10:14
Meadors now moves to Shelly seeing Alex at 6:30 in the morning days after the murder, coming inside the house with the blue, bundled up "something." She remembers this and tells police, they get a search warrant, and they find the blue jacket. Meadors says it's more evidence.
- Comment
10:15
Meadors says Alex killed Maggie and Paul to protect the one he loved the most: himself.
- Comment
10:16
Meadors back on the blue jacket now and how there was GSR all over the inside of it. Meadors says he disposed of the guns with the jacket.
- Comment
10:17
Meadors notes how Smith said Alex was driving two different trucks and an ATV around his parents' property that morning. He was getting rid of evidence.
- Comment
10:19
Meadors notes the incredible timing of Murdaugh offering Shelly Smith money for her wedding and help with her job at the school. Says you can't make up that sequence of events to have it make sense.
- Comment
10:24
Meadors notes how Simpson noted how Alex was wearing cloth, Sperry type shoes the night he came to visit, not the tennis shoes he was wearing when police arrived. He changed shoes.
- Comment
10:25
Meadors notes how Blanca loved Maggie. Knew the family so well. Washed clothes for them. Knew what Alex as wearing the day of the murders when he left for work.
- Comment
10:27
Meadors notes Alex couldn't recall when he changed clothes when confronted with the Snapchat video.
- Comment
10:28
Meadors says Det. Laura Rutland put her hand on Alex's shoulder in the first interview. Says it shows they had sympathy (a heart), not that they rushed to judgement.
- Comment
10:29
Meadors says you can't run and check pulse on two bodies in 20 seconds, then run back and call 911. Also notes Alex was clean. No blood or dirt on him. He didn't check their pulses.
- Comment
10:30
Meadors asks the jury not to fall for the theory Alex didn't have Maggie's phone. He put it on the golf cart with him and he was probably walking around and stopping to look at it occasionally, which would account for the movements but no steps.
- Comment
10:31
Meadors notes how Murdaugh repeatedly lied about the kennel video. Asks jury if they think he would've told the truth on the stand if the video never came out.
- Comment
10:32
Meadors says the stopping of the activity on the phones proves Maggie's and Paul's time of death.
- Comment
10:33
Meadors notes Alex lying he wanted to help law enforcement, but that he repeatedly lied about the kennels. Why wouldn't he tell them he was there if he really cared about solving the case and not protecting himself.
- Comment
10:35
Meadors notes how the State never offered the blood evidence the defense made such a big deal about, trying to put them on trial for doing their jobs. He admits mistakes were made, but that didn't impact the trial.
- Comment
10:36
Meadors says you don't lie about not being at the scene when your family is brutally murdered. SLED, Colleton County deputies aren't on trial. Alex Murdaugh is.
- Comment
10:37
Meadors notes how if the Defense could've come up with an expert to refute the evidence about the family owned guns, they would've. They didn't. Powerful circumstantial evidence, he says.
- Comment
10:37
Meadors says this case reminded him of an episode of Columbo.
- Comment
10:39
Meadors: Common sense says Alex threw Maggie's phone out the window and texted it as he drove away.
- Comment
10:39
Meadors says it makes no sense Alex didn't drive down to the kennels when he couldn't get Maggie on the phone.
- Comment
10:40
Meadors says the state has proven nobody else could've done it.
- Comment
10:40
Meadors says it's makes no sense Paul's phone just "popped out."
- Comment
10:42
Meadors: "If you can't believe somebody's credible on one thing, how can you believe them on the ultimate issue -- when the only thing they've corroborated for you throughout this investigation, throughout this trial and throughout Mr. Waters' cross examination is he's a liar?"
- Comment
10:44
Meadors says Paul was a beautiful witness for the state, he had that insurance against his Dad through the video nobody in the world knew he had.
- Comment
10:45
Meadors says Maggie was a perfect witness too because the shell casings around her body proved the shell casings came from a family gun.
- Comment
10:47
Meadors says his family was watching the kennel video, and when Bubba started to bark, her dog heard it on the video and barked too. Asks jury if they think Bubba knew something? Bubba puts Alex at the kennels by yelling. So why wasn't Alex telling law enforcement he was there?
- Comment
10:48
Meadors tells jury their greatest power is the power to choose. Notes how his Dad told him never to blame anybody else. If you make a good choice, be humble. If you make a bad choice, be responsible.
- Comment
10:50
Meadors says he thinks Alex loved Maggie and Paul, but he loved himself more, and used his power of choice -- his greatest power -- to protect himself.
10:51
Meadors says Alex has lied and lied and lied, and the State requests it stops here. Find him guilty.
Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 28: Closing arguments completed on both sides
Thursday could likely be the last day in the Murdaugh murder trial before the jury begins deliberations.Read More:PODCAST: Murdaugh Day 27 Recap I Unsolved So
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3/2/24
Closing Arguments - Jim Griffin
Jim Griffin presented the closing argument for the Defense of Alex Murdaugh.Griffin said he wishes he could ask the jury questions during trial, and vice versa. Not being able to is one imperfect thing he feels about the U.S. justice system.
Griffin also apologized for the argument's length in advance, but he hoped to answer all their questions with his final argument. He thanked the jury for their service.
Griffin reminded the jury of their duty to presume innocence, no matter how hard it may be.
Griffin made the analogy of "instant replay" in sports. The ruling on the field is Alex is innocent until proven guilty. The trial is the instant replay, unless beyond a reasonable doubt, the call on the field must stand.
Griffin described reasonable doubt as "doubt that causes them to hesitate before a big decision."
Griffin conceded Murdaugh being at the scene with a shotgun when deputies arrived made him a suspect. He conceded immediate family members are always in the circle of potential suspects, especially if they found the bodies and called 911.
Griffin began by criticizing SLED and Colleton County Sheriff's Office for the June 8 press release saying there's no threat to the public, indicating they already decided Alex was the murderer. He thinks it's a fair question that wasn't fairly answered in this trial.
Griffin said SLED failed miserably in investigating the case and failed miserably in fairly attempting to exclude Alex Murdaugh.
Griffin noted how several people -- the fire-rescue chief Mark McRoy, Mark Ball, noting the tire tracks and need to close off the crime scene entrance.
Griffin says SLED failed to test hair seen in Maggie's hands, failed to properly fingerprint feed room, failed to properly test the concrete in and around the feed room for footwear impressions. The evidence wasn't preserved, so "we'll never know," he says. Griffin notes DNA samples weren't taken off Maggie and Paul's clothes.
Griffin makes the point DNA, blood samples, etc. were extensively taken from Alex's clothes. Why, unless they already decided Alex was the suspect?
Griffin gets into the forensic data on Maggie's phone, and how the phone wasn't properly protected afterward in a Faraday Bag. Griffin says he agrees whoever killed Maggie put her phone on the side of the road, that location services were on, and Alex was adamant with SLED from the beginning their phones and his SUV were never together the night of the murders. Griffin criticizes SLED, saying had they put Maggie's phone in a faraday bag or simply extracted the data earlier, the location data potentially proving Alex's story about the phones would not have been overwritten.
Griffin further goes into how SLED nor the FBI did due diligence in trying to get OnStar data from General Motors off Alex's SUV.
Griffin says after the roadside shooting and Alex's drug problem and thefts were revealed, Alex became an easy target.
Griffin accuses SLED of fabricating evidence re: blood on Alex's shirt in order to secure a conviction. 0-for-74 on confirmatory tests for blood on the shirt in their own lab. That didn't stop SLED from pursuing the indictment using separate test and analysis from an outside expert that they claimed showed high-velocity blood spatter.
Griffin: "They went from Mr. Bloody Shirt leading up to this trial to Mr. Clean during this trial.
Notes SLED wasn't asking about Alex's changes of clothes was "late to the dance."
Griffin notes SLED told the Colleton grand jury they had evidence of the high velocity blood spatter, which they used to secure the indictment. Makes fun of the fact lead investigator David Owen says he didn't know about his own lab's "no blood" test results because he "didn't get the email."
Griffin: "Here we are with a Mr. Clean theory, that he washed off after brutally murdering Maggie and Paul? He takes a hose and washes himself off? He gets in a golf cart, and drives to the house butt naked, I guess?"
Griffin says again the blood spatter evidence was fabricated.
Griffin now talking about the blue rain coat with gunshot residue found at Murdaugh's parents house. Shelly Smith was sure it was a blue tarp, and she saw it laid out on Murdaugh's mother's rocking chair. But then SLED found a blue rain jacket in a closet. Nobody in the family had ever seen it. Notes how SLED lied to John Marvin about where they found it. They showed Shelly Smith the photo of the jacket in the closet, she said it looked like the tarp she thought she saw. They looked alike, but she was sure she'd seen a tarp. Griffin says more fabricated evidence.
Griffin notes how David Owen lied to the grand jury about saying there were four shotguns found inside the house at Moselle loaded with the buckshot/birdshot combo that killed Paul. Griffin notes Owen told Murdaugh the same lie, but said he was allowed to use trickery as law enforcement. Owen said he wasn't trying to trick the grand jury, it was a mistake. People make mistakes all the time. Griffin notes time mistakes like Alex made repeatedly are the most common for people to make.
Griffin glosses over the kennel video showing Alex lied about being the murder scene minutes before Maggie and Paul's deaths.
Griffin says three of the four things used to secure the grand jury indictments for murder weren't true -- bloody shirt, shotgun loading habit, and gunshot residue on the blue coat.
Griffin acknowledges Murdaugh lied about being at the kennels.
Griffin: "We're left with the lie. Alex lied about being down at the kennels. And why did he lie? That's certainly a fair question, and frankly he probably wouldn't be sitting over there right now had he not lied, but he did lie, and he told you why he lied. He said he lied because -- I'll tell you, he lied because that's what addicts do. Addicts lie. He lied because he had a closet full of skeletons and that he didn't want any more scrutiny on him -- which is ironic because, depending on which day of the week, their theory is that he slaughtered his wife and son to distract from an impending financial investigation, but he puts himself in the middle of a murder investigation and he puts himself in the middle of a media firestorm. That's their motive evidence."
Griffin: "But he lied. He lied because his drug paranoia kicked in, and he was clearly in the throes of addiction. He lied for all those reasons, but what he didn't lie for was because he was covering up the fact that he killed Maggie and Paul. That is not the reason he did it."
Griffin played the dog kennel video and showed the court a nice family photo of Murdaughs.
Griffin noted there's nothing in the video indicating strife- it was a pleasant family conversation. Why would Alex kill Maggie and Paul five minutes later?
Griffin glosses over and somewhat misstates the State's position about the forensic data on the phones. He described it as the State insinuating that if the phones stop moving, you're dead.
Griffin played recordings of interviews with Blanca Simpson and Roger Davis, pointing out they and others said Alex adored Maggie and had a great relationship with Paul.
"The State's theory is there was a storm a'coming, clouds were a'rising, and that his financial house of cards was about to collapse, and he was about to be exposed. And because of that, he does what every rational person would do: GO KILL YOUR WIFE AND SON?! That is their theory of motive. That is their theory of motive. That 'Oh and it worked too, by the way!' Because he killed his wife and son, Jeanne Seckinger quit asking questions for a few weeks. Oh, and the boating case, wooo, 'That won't be worth anything now that his wife and son have been murdered because he's sympathetic!' Have you ever heard of such a thing?" Griffin said.
Griffin said the theory of motive makes no sense and asked the jury to use common sense. There's no way to look at it and not have reasonable doubt, so the verdict must be not guilty, Griffin told them.
Griffin said addicts lie, cheat and steal to keep getting their drug.
Griffin reminded the jury that evidence of Alex's thefts and drugs can only be considered for purposes of motive, not character.
After the court's brief break, Griffin talked about the ballistic evidence.
Griffin said the State has claimed Maggie and Paul were killed by family weapons, but there's no evidence of that.
Griffin said Waters reenacted a shooting scenario yesterday during his closing argument. He said there's no evidence to support it happening that way.
Griffin said: "Another curious point in Water's closing argument yesterday involves Paul's intuitive talents..." He talks about Paul's "little detective" nickname.
Griffin said there are no facts proving the inference Waters made that Paul found the drugs and was shot by Alex because of that.
What if Paul the detective went to that source and said, 'cut it out, you're ruining my family!', Griffin muses.
Griffin then talked about how people misremember things, even important facts. That doesn't mean they are lying about it, that's just how they remembered it.
He gives Maggie's sister Marian Proctor as an example, saying she misremembered her last communication with her sister.
The same with Shelly Smith, Murdaugh's mother's caretaker, and the blue tarp, Griffin said. He said Shelly remembered Alex bringing the tarp/coat to his mother's house on a certain day, but Griffin said there's evidence Alex was not in town that day- he was with family elsewhere.
Griffin: "Shelly remembers something, but it's not a blue raincoat and certainly Alex could not have come over there on Wednesday."
He said they're not disputing Shelly's call to her brother after talking to Alex about his alibi later on. They are disputing her account of Alex pushing his different account.
Griffin said the On Star data shows conclusively that Alex drove to his mother's and straight back. There was no stopping to bury bloody clothes, etc.
He referred to the On Star data often as proof of evidence.
Says Alex didn't throw Maggie's phone out the window of his car because if he had, her phone's backlight would have DEFNIITELY turned on. An expert witness the state brought on this week gave testimony contrary to that.
"And now we've got a guy tossing a phone in an office and he doesn't even work for SLED," Griffin said.
Griffin referred to his HBO interview in November of 2022. Griffin said he was on the show and interviewed, but not on tv talking about Alex's murder charges.
John Meadors stood up at this point to object, saying actually Griffin did talk about those things in the interview.
Griffin said there's no direct evidence of Alex doing anything guilty. Any evidence is circumstantial only, which still counts, but he said isn't as strong.
He explained to the jury that when they rely on circumstantial evidence, the circumstances must be consistent with each other and when taken together, must point conclusively to the guilt of the defendant. Cannot just be suspicious.
The judge will provide the jury with official documents outlining this.
Griffin said the time of death was only determined by cell phone use, which isn't an accurate indicator.
"There are a number of reasons why Paul would stop using his phone," Griffin said.
He tried to play a clip of Rogan Gibson's testimony but there's an objection from the State about who is on the clip, which was pulled from the court's livestream.
The objection is sustained and Griffin cannot play the clip.
Dick Harpootlian approached Griffin and suggested they just play the audio from the clip. The audio is played without further objection.
Another clip, this time from Nolan Tuten, is played.
Both men testify to times Paul wasn't on his phone.
With Tuten, he says in the clip that Paul would put his phone down sometimes when he was working in the kennels/on the farm.
Alex Murdaugh is seen seemingly crying, bowing his head.
Earlier, when first bringing up the issue of time of death being determined by cell phone use only, Griffin made the point that most of the people in the courtroom don't have their phones while there. So, he said, using the State's strategy, if any of them died, their time of death would be determined by the last time they used their phone that day.
Griffin went through the cell phone evidence presented for the night of the murders.
Griffin said Alex's steps and movements show Alex was stepping "slowly" and not "scurrying around" like Waters had said.
Griffin showed timeline data he believes proves Alex wasn't walking with Maggie's phone on him, given they both didn't record steps at the same time.
Were they killed before Alex left for his mom's house? Griffin said he doesn't know. But he knows Alex wouldn't have heard the shots if he was at the house.
He said the State didn't challenge the acoustics expert that testified to that ^
Griffin talked about the State's timeline of events now- trying to tear down each part.
He said Alex would have been a magician to get cleaned up and get rid of all the evidence.
Griffin referred to a testimony that said the shooter would have been covered in blood. (several people testified Alex looked clean on scene)
Griffin talked about what Alex did when he left Moselle on his way to his mother's house. How he called his son Buster, his brother, then sat with his mother and her caretaker- all things that would have happened after the murders
"He's got no blood on him, he's acting normal like everyday, he's the same ol' Alex," Griffin said. "Their theory is he just... the people he loved most in the world, he just blew them away."
The most common sense thing here is there were two shooters, Griffin said.
Griffin said one gun would've been enough, especially with a 10+ round magazine.
Griffin said the facts aren't consistent with proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Griffin brought up the "They did him so bad" vs. "I did him so bad" comment by Alex Murdaugh. He said it points to the bigger question -- What would SLED be saying if there was no video?
Griffin brought up how the State made a point Alex seemed to show no concern for Buster because he didn't call him after the murders. Griffin said of course Alex wasn't concerned about Buster after the roadside shooting in Sept. 21 because Alex knew it was a staged shooting.
Griffin played body camera video of night of shooting showing Alex asking Colleton Sheriff Buddy Hill to get a police officer for Buster in Columbia after the shooting, while also admitting he hadn't called him yet. Murdaugh can be heard saying to his brother, "Randy, what about Buster?" then asking Hill to get him a deputy.
Griffin said Alex was wrong on times repeatedly, but they weren't lies. Also points out how Alex frequently asked officials to pull records for exact times. Him not remembering exact times isn't proof of anything.
Griffin said nobody should hold against Alex misremembering the sequence of events at the scene where Alex ran up to the bodies then called 911, then later said he'd been up to them and it was bad while already on the phone.
Griffin called back to Waters in State closing saying Maggie was running to her baby.
Griffin said he's unsure of the State's theory about whether actually went up to the bodies. Is it that he didn't touch them? How could he have their DNA all over his body if he didn't touch them?
Griffin said it has to be because he did go up and touch them, further proven by the spot of blood on the Suburban steering wheel and the gun he went and retrieved from the house. (It should be noted Griffin argued earlier during trial that it would be perfectly reasonable for a husband to have his wife and son's DNA on his clothes at any time.)
Griffin brought up again Alex being in the throes of addiction, and having all these skeletons in his closet.
Griffin said the State has gone to great lengths to convince the jury of guilt through sleight of hand, not actual evidence.
Griffin reiterated that the theory of Alex trying to distract from his other problems by murdering his family and creating more problems is illogical.
Griffin said Murdaugh would not murder those who meant the most to him and that suspicious behavior is not evidence of guilt.
He said the State hasn't met its burden of proof. That the State wants the jury to review facts through the lens of Alex being a monster, but their job is to view him through the lens of innocence. Justice requires a not guilty verdict.
Griffin [his voice quivering]: "On behalf of Alex, on behalf of Buster, on behalf of Maggie and on behalf of my friend Paul, I respectfully request that you do not compound a family tragedy with another."
The Defense rested after this.
Alex Murdaugh didn't initially look at or acknowledge Griffin when he walked back to the table, but did pat him gently on the back while they stood for the jury to leave.
State's Rebuttal - John Meadors
John Meadors gave the State's closing rebuttal. He estimated it'd take no more than 40 minutes.Meadors began by thanking the jury ant the court staff.
He said the jury has been preparing for this moment, in this case, their entire lives through their lived experiences.
Meadors said they must now decide what's credible and believable.
Meadors agreed with Griffin that this is a common sense case, and the jury didn't leave their common sense behind when the trial started.
Griffin started in on Defense arguments against SLED saying they fabricated evidence. He noted how he in a past trial dubbed Dick Harpootlian a smoke screen machine, likened this case to an eclipse.
Meadors finds it offensive that law enforcement didn't do their job while Murdaugh was withholding and obstructing justice by not admitting to being at the kennels.
Meadors said Murdaugh tried to blame everybody else. Said it's again offensive.
Meadors circled back to credibility and believability.
Meadors also noted how good Murdaugh's grandfather Buster had been to him starting out in his career.
Meadors through a story about rain from the first day of trial makes the allusion to circumstantial evidence changing into direct evidence.
He recalled his mother giving him a copy of the story "The Velveteen Rabbit" when he went off to college, which he said was about learning about how to deal with people and growing up. He explains his mother wrote in front of the book "Always be real."
He goes on to say this case is about Murdaugh "never being real."
Meadors said the defense blames everybody but Alex.
Meadors immediately seized on the video of Alex asking Buddy Hill to get a police officer to Buster, but Meadors points out how that was over 40 minutes after Alex arrived at the scene. He still hadn't called him at that point. He wasn't really worried about Buster or he'd have told him to get to a police station immediately.
Meadors said if Alex was really concerned, he would've told law enforcement to get to his mother's house to protect her too -- but he couldn't do that because he hid the guns there.
Meadors seized on the idea of the boat crash vigilantes. He said nobody was thinking about the Mallory Beach boat crash that night except Alex. He said that illustrates the implausibility of the killers also using family guns and committing the murders between the time Alex left the kennels and when he left to go to his mother's house.
Meadors said of malice aforethought, malice is evil wickedness, and it only has to exist for the amount of time it takes to pull a trigger.
He said the prosecution doesn't have to prove motive, though he thinks they have.
"His world's coming down. This was the only way he could save -- it was the only way to save Alex," Meadors said.
Meadors said Murdaugh sounded angry when he called Bubba.
"Maybe (Alex) just got angry. Maybe he got angry a Paul. Maybe he got -- 'You know, you started all this with the boat case' -- and maybe he just lost it. Maybe he just lost it," he said.
Meadors again noted they don't need to prove motive. He was just angry and he did it, and they believe they've proven it.
As for malice, he said Alex shot Paul twice and shot Maggie five times. That's clearly malicious. No dispute about malice.
Regarding "reasonable doubt," Meadors said it doesn't mean beyond "all doubt."
Instead, it's beyond doubt which would make a reasonable person pause or reconsider. Sometimes questions are just questions. If you're firmly convinced of guilt despite some doubts, you must find him guilty, Meadors said.
Meadors noted it was so rare for Alex to go by at 9:30 at night to see his mom.
He said the data shows he parked near the outdoor kitchen. The State believes that's when Alex went to hide the guns. He didn't go to the house in the afternoon when Barbara Mixson told him he needed to earlier that afternoon.
"He wasn't going there because he loves his Mama. He wasn't going to be with her. He was going because he loves Alex. He loves Alex, and he was going there to create his alibi. Use your common sense," he said.
Meadors said how long Alex was actually in his mother's house is important. That's when he was hiding the guns. Shelly said he stayed 15 to 20 minutes. Then he came back a few days later and asked her if she remembered that he'd actually been there 30-45 minutes. She was so concerned she called her brother. Got very upset on the stand, noted the Murdaughs are good family. Meadors asks if the jury thinks Shelly knew *right then* what the truth is.
Meadors then moved to Shelly seeing Alex at 6:30 in the morning days after the murder, coming inside the house with the blue, bundled up "something." She remembers this and tells police, they get a search warrant, and they find the blue jacket. Meadors said it's more evidence.
Meadors said Alex killed Maggie and Paul to protect the one he loved the most: himself.
Meadors went back to the blue jacket now and how there was GSR all over the inside of it. Meadors said Alex disposed of the guns with the jacket.
Meadors noted how Smith said Alex was driving two different trucks and an ATV around his parents' property that morning. He was getting rid of evidence.
Meadors noted the incredible timing of Murdaugh offering Shelly Smith money for her wedding and help with her job at the school. Said you can't make up that sequence of events to have it make sense.
Meadors noted how Simpson noted how Alex was wearing cloth, Sperry type shoes the night he came to visit, not the tennis shoes he was wearing when police arrived. He changed shoes.
Meadors noted how Blanca loved Maggie. Knew the family so well. Washed clothes for them. Knew what Alex as wearing the day of the murders when he left for work.
Meadors noted Alex couldn't recall when he changed clothes when confronted with the Snapchat video.
Meadors said Det. Laura Rutland put her hand on Alex's shoulder in the first interview. Said it shows they had sympathy (a heart), not that they rushed to judgement.
Meadors said you can't run and check pulse on two bodies in 20 seconds, then run back and call 911. Also noted Alex was clean. No blood or dirt on him, proving he didn't check their pulses.
Meadors asked the jury not to fall for the theory Alex didn't have Maggie's phone. He put it on the golf cart with him and he was probably walking around and stopping to look at it occasionally, which would account for the movements but no steps.
Meadors noted how Murdaugh repeatedly lied about the kennel video. Asked the jury if they think he would've told the truth on the stand if the video never came out.
Meadors said the stopping of the activity on the phones proves Maggie's and Paul's time of death.
Meadors noted Alex lying he wanted to help law enforcement, but that he repeatedly lied about the kennels. Why wouldn't he tell them he was there if he really cared about solving the case and not protecting himself.
Meadors noted how the State never offered the blood evidence the defense made such a big deal about, trying to put them on trial for doing their jobs. He admits mistakes were made, but that didn't impact the trial.
Meadors said you don't lie about not being at the scene when your family is brutally murdered. SLED, Colleton County deputies aren't on trial. Alex Murdaugh is.
Meadors noted how if the Defense could've come up with an expert to refute the evidence about the family owned guns, they would've. They didn't. Powerful circumstantial evidence, he says.
Meadors said this case reminded him of an episode of Columbo.
Meadors: Common sense says Alex threw Maggie's phone out the window and texted it as he drove away.
Meadors said it makes no sense Alex didn't drive down to the kennels when he couldn't get Maggie on the phone.
Meadors said the state has proven nobody else could've done it.
Meadors said it's makes no sense Paul's phone just "popped out."
Meadors: "If you can't believe somebody's credible on one thing, how can you believe them on the ultimate issue -- when the only thing they've corroborated for you throughout this investigation, throughout this trial and throughout Mr. Waters' cross examination is he's a liar?"
Meadors said Paul was a beautiful witness for the state, he had that insurance against his Dad through the video nobody in the world knew he had.
Meadors said Maggie was a perfect witness too because the shell casings around her body proved the shell casings came from a family gun.
Meadors said his family was watching the kennel video, and when Bubba started to bark, her dog heard it on the video and barked too. He asked the jury if they think Bubba knew something? Bubba puts Alex at the kennels by yelling. So why wasn't Alex telling law enforcement he was there?
Meadors told the jury their greatest power is the power to choose. Noted how his Dad told him never to blame anybody else. If you make a good choice, be humble. If you make a bad choice, be responsible.
Meadors said he thinks Alex loved Maggie and Paul, but he loved himself more, and used his power of choice -- his greatest power -- to protect himself.
Meadors said Alex has lied and lied and lied, and the State requests it stops here. Find him guilty.
Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 28: Closing arguments completed on both sides
Thursday could likely be the last day in the Murdaugh murder trial before the jury begins deliberations.Read More:PODCAST: Murdaugh Day 27 Recap I Unsolved So
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WATCH LIVE: Murdaugh Murder Trial - March 2
3/2/23
Live embed authored by Drew Tripp.
12:03
Court has resumed and Judge Newman will now give the jury their charge instructions.
12:38
The jury has been excused to the jury room. They will begin deliberating soon once they have all the exhibits, the indictments and a copy of the judge's instructions.
12:42
The State and Defense have both requested the one remaining alternate juror be held -- contrary to normal court procedure -- in reserve at the courthouse in case something should happen with one of the 12 jurors who are left on the main panel. Murdaugh himself told the judge he wished for this to happen. The 13th juror is being held in a separate room.
12:42
The jury was sent back at approx. 3:35 p.m.
12:45
Court is in recess until a verdict is reached or until a the jury returns with a question, note, etc.
abcnews4.com
3/2/23
Live embed authored by Drew Tripp.
Jury charged
After a lunchbreak, Judge Newman gave the jury their charge instructions.12:03
Court has resumed and Judge Newman will now give the jury their charge instructions.
12:38
The jury has been excused to the jury room. They will begin deliberating soon once they have all the exhibits, the indictments and a copy of the judge's instructions.
12:42
The State and Defense have both requested the one remaining alternate juror be held -- contrary to normal court procedure -- in reserve at the courthouse in case something should happen with one of the 12 jurors who are left on the main panel. Murdaugh himself told the judge he wished for this to happen. The 13th juror is being held in a separate room.
12:42
The jury was sent back at approx. 3:35 p.m.
12:45
Court is in recess until a verdict is reached or until a the jury returns with a question, note, etc.
Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 28: Closing arguments completed on both sides
Thursday could likely be the last day in the Murdaugh murder trial before the jury begins deliberations.Read More:PODCAST: Murdaugh Day 27 Recap I Unsolved So
abcnews4.com
Seattle1
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- Feb 25, 2013
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Jury finds Alex Murdaugh guilty of murdering wife and son
After less than three hours of deliberations, a jury found Alex Murdaugh guilty Thursday evening for the June 7, 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and youngest
abcnews4.com
3/2/23
COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — After less than three hours of deliberations, a jury found Alex Murdaugh guilty on all counts Thursday evening for the June 7, 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul in a trial that spanned more than five weeks and drew attention from across the nation to rural Colleton County, South Carolina.
The jury was dismissed from the courtroom to begin deliberations at 3:50 p.m. on Thursday. They returned with a verdict at 6:41 p.m.
Murdaugh was found guilty on all four charges- two counts of murders and two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
According to former Attorney General Charlie Condon, who was in the courtroom, Murdaugh mouthed, “I’m sorry, I love you!” to his surviving son Buster before being escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs.
Judge Clifton Newman said he would issue a sentence Friday morning. Court is expected to resume Friday at 9:30 a.m. for this.
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BREAKING: Alex Murdaugh Swiftly Convicted of Murdering Wife and Son
Mar 2, 2023
Mar 2, 2023