SC - Paul Murdaugh,22 & Mom Margaret,52, 7 June 2021 *Media, Maps, Timeline-NO DISCUSSION*

[Seattle1]

Alex Murdaugh murder trial: Everything you need to know before Friday's proceedings.

The first testimony and evidence was offered in the Murdaugh murders trial. Here's analysis and recap about Thursday's proceedings in Colleton County.

www.greenvilleonline.com

1/26/23

Key Points -- DAY 4 of Trial

• Paul Murdaugh's truck was found miles away from murder scene, inside Hampton County.
• Footprints and tire tracks may hold clues to the killer.
• Water found at dog kennels near Paul's body raises more questions.
• Attorneys questioned why there was only one vehicle at murder scene, or did Paul and Maggie walk more than 1,000 yards to the crime scene?

Day four of the Murdaugh murder trial continued with an examination of the 911 call from Alex Murdaugh, and rounds of questioning from the prosecution and defense for the first officers to arrive at the scene that night.

The lines of questioning and exhibits of evidence indicated that water near Paul Murdaugh's body, as well as tire tracks and footprint impressions, may hold important clues as to who killed the Murdaughs.

The first witnesses of the day were Tinish Bryson-Smith of Hampton County 911 Dispatch and Angela Stallings of Colleton County Dispatch/Colleton County Sheriff's Office. Both witnesses testified about receiving the 911 call from Murdaugh on the night of June 7, 2021, and prosecutors played the unredacted 911 tape publicly for the first time.

For the first time, the public could hear the unredacted 911 call, which is frantic and graphic at times. When the 911 Dispatcher asked Murdaugh if Maggie and Paul shot themselves, he replied "Oh no, hell no!" Murdaugh also tells the dispatcher that both victims were shot in the head, there's "blood everywhere," and "I can see his brains."

[..]

Perhaps the most telling information on the 911 call was when Murdaugh told the dispatcher that the last time he had talked to his wife was roughly two hours before and that he wasn't at the crime scene at the time of the killings. Prosecutors said at the beginning of the trial that they had cell phone video evidence that puts Murdaugh at the scene with the victims much closer than the two-hour period he told dispatchers.

While SC Attorney General chief prosecutor Creighton Waters did not address the contradiction in the times during Thursday's session, his body language at that moment in the 911 audio indicated an "I gotcha!" moment for the prosecution that jurors will likely hear about later.

[..]

While Murdaugh had told dispatchers that he had touched the bodies to see if there was a pulse, Chapman testified that the two most common pulse checkpoints were the wrists and the neck. Paul Murdaugh's hands were underneath his blood-covered body, and his neck was covered in blood, yet Murdaugh had no visible blood on his hands or clothing, testified Chapman.

Chapman also testified that Murdaugh exhibited behavior that night that he thought was "odd," and at times his reactions and facial expressions changed when they searched different areas of the crime scene, or asked him specific questions.

[..]

Chapman testified that the distance from the main residence and the dog kennels, where the bodies were found, was roughly 1,000 yards. The only family vehicle at the scene when officers responded to the 911 call was the SUV Murdaugh was driving, and Chapman doubted that the pair would have walked that far on a hot, humid night with a rain storm coming in.

The officer later testified that Paul's Ford F-250 had been reportedly been moved from the estate and was found just inside Hampton County, on Highway 63, but neither the officer nor the prosecution elaborated on who may have moved the vehicle, where exactly it was found, or any other details.

[..]

Officers spent a great deal of time discussing tire marks and footprint impressions at the scene, and Murdaugh's defense attorney Richard Harpootlian spent most of his cross examination asking why much of this evidence wasn't preserved in the event it could aid Murdaugh's case by providing clues to other possible killers.

Harpootlian, just as he did early in the day, devoted much of his cross examination to questioning the integrity of the crime scene and the investigation.

[..]

Drone video and footage was entered for the first time, showing the Murdaugh estate from an aerial view, and there was a good deal of questioning about water found at the dog kennels and near Paul's body. While neither side spent much time elaborating, the prosecution gave clues that this detail might be relevant later, such as if Murdaugh attempted to wash away evidence, while the defense indicated this was normal water from washing out dog kennels.

 

[Seattle1]

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article271678687.html

1/27/23

Day 4 of Trial -- LIVE BLOG

5:30 P.M. — COURT IN RECESS UNTIL 9:30 A.M.
After a lengthy day of witness testimony and cross examination, Judge Clifton Newman says the court will be in recess. The jury is expected to return at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Meanwhile, attorneys in the Murdaugh murder trial have agreed to release redacted versions of all body camera videos, NewsNation reporter Brian Entin posted on Twitter Thursday. Entin said he expected the videos to be released either late Thursday or on Friday.

5:22 P.M. — SLED STATEMENT COMES UNDER SCRUTINY

In cross examination, Murdaugh defense attorney Dick Harpootlian questions Chapman about a statement released by the S.C. Law Enforcement Division the day after the murders.

SLED, on June 8, 2021, released a statement saying that there was no danger to the public. Chapman testifies the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, his agency, never released the statement and it would have had to come from SLED.

5:00 P.M. — CHAPMAN SAYS MURDAUGH’S DEMEANOR CHANGED

Chapman testifies that Alex Murdaugh’s demeanor changed when investigators began looking into tire tracks near the crime scene. He says Murdaugh was initially emotional and upset and began to watch investigators more closely when they were examining the tracks.

Chapman says that he asked Alex Murdaugh how Maggie and Paul got to the dog kennels, where they were found shot to death. He says Murdaugh speculated that they drove Paul’s Ford F-250, which was missing. He says police found the vehicle around 10:30 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. the next morning off Highway 63.

4:49 P.M. — POLICE DISCOVERED FOOTPRINTS NEAR MURDER SCENE

After returning from recess, Chapman tells the prosecution that investigators found a set of footprints near the crime scene. He describes the area as “a hangar,” which is across a driveway from the dog kennels where Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were found shot to death.

Chapman testifies that the footprints are similar to shoes worn by Maggie Murdaugh when she was killed.

4:00 P.M. — INVESTIGATOR INTERPRETS ALEX MURDAUGH’S BEHAVIOR AT SCENE​

Chapman, while being questioned by the prosecution, says he interrupted Alex Murdaugh’s decision to get a gun as a sign that he was scared and that Murdaugh may have thought there was an active shooter.

He says the only thing he thought was strange from Murdaugh’s 911 call is that he ended the call early to call his family. Chapman says Murdaugh was emotional while speaking with investigators at the scene.

He testifies that investigators swabbed Murdaugh’s hand for gunshot residue.

The court takes a recess during Chapman’s testimony.

3:45 P.M. — POLICE CHECKED FOR GUN UNDER PAUL MURDAUGH’S BODY

The next witness is Jason Chapman, a deputy with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office who responded to the murder scene. In his testimony with prosecutors, Chapman describes how police did not know “what we had” when they arrived at the scene. “I don’t know if we had a active shooter, didn’t know if was a murder-suicide, didn’t know if we had people in the woods. We don’t have any idea,” he says.

Chapman tells prosecutors that police investigators checked underneath the body of Paul Murdaugh to see if there was a gun. He says they didn’t find one. He also testifies that he did not notice any blood on Alex Murdaugh’s shirt at the scene.

3:05 P.M. — FIRE CHIEF DESCRIBES GRUESOME CRIME SCENE

Barry McRoy, the fire chief of Colleton County Fire and Rescue, is next on the stand. Alex Murdaugh cries in court as McRoy details the gruesome murder scene. McRoy describes one crime scene photo where Paul Murdaugh is “lying face down … with his brain around his ankles.”

2:50 P.M. — MURDAUGH TOLD 911 THAT PAUL MURDAUGH RECEIVED THREATS

In the unredacted 911 call from June 7, 2021, Alex Murdaugh tells the operator that he wanted to head back to his house to get a gun “just in case.” When the operator tells Murdaugh not to get one, Murdaugh is heard saying that his son had been threatened “for months.”

This isn’t the first time the Murdaugh family has said that Paul Murdaugh received threats. In a June 2021 interview shortly after the murders, John Marvin Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh’s younger brother, told ABC News that Paul received threats. “I didn’t think it was a credible threat,” John Marvin Murdaugh said in the interview. “If it was, I would have tried to do something or notify someone. But, I guess, maybe I made a mistake.”

2:40 P.M. — AUDIO OF MURDAUGH’S 911 CALL​

After coming back from break, prosecutors call to the stand Tinish Bryson-Smith with Hampton County Central Dispatch and Angela Stallings with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors play an unredacted recording of Alex Murdaugh’s call to 911 the night of the murders.

While Murdaugh’s 911 call has been publicly released, certain parts of the call had not been previously heard.

In one part, which had not been previously released, the 911 dispatcher is heard asking Murdaugh if his wife and son shot themselves. Murdaugh responds, “No, hell no!”

12:55 P.M. — COURT BREAKS FOR LUNCH

The court has recessed for lunch until 2:15 p.m.

So far, Waters and Harpootlian have questioned two officers from the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office who responded to the murder scene on June 7, 2021.

In cross examination with both officers, Harpootlian has tried to poke holes in law enforcement’s initial investigation of the murders. He repeatedly asked about what steps the officers took to preserve the scene, pointing out that one of the officers did not take photos of tire tracks.

Waters, in his questioning, pushed back on this framing. He had one of the officers confirm that he was not aware of any evidence that was contaminated.

12:12 P.M. — ANOTHER OFFICER TAKES THE STAND

Next up, Waters calls Chad McDowell to the stand. McDowell is an officer with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office and was one of officers who responded to the murder scene on June 7, 2021.

Waters asks McDowell a series of questions about his handling of the crime scene — an attempt to show the jury that the scene was properly preserved.

12:10 P.M. — HARPOOTLIAN TARGETS HANDLING OF CRIME SCENE

In cross examination, Murdaugh’s defense attorney Dick Harpootlian repeatedly questions Greene about the steps law enforcement took to preserve the crime scene.

Harpootlian’s main focus was tire tracks observed near the scene. Greene says he’s not an expert on tire tracks and did not take any photos of the tracks.

“I guess what I’m getting at ... a part of a crime scene is keep it pristine — don’t walk over things, trying to preserve tire tracks, take pictures of footprints, all those sorts of things,”

Harpootlian says. After Harpootlian’s questioning, Waters, the prosecutor, immediately pushes back against the framing that the crime scene was improperly preserved.

“You were asked a series of questions about contaminating evidence. Are you aware that any evidence was contaminated in this case?”

Waters asks Greene. “I’m not,” Greene says. “Did you engage in everything you could to avoid contaminating evidence?” “Yes,” Greene says.

10:20 A.M. — MURDAUGH TOLD POLICE MURDERS WERE RELATED TO BOAT CRASH

Prosecutor Creighton Waters plays footage from Greene’s body camera for the jury. On the night of the murders, Alex Murdaugh appears to tell Greene he thought the murders of his wife and son were related to the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach, according to the footage.

“This a long story. My son was in a boat wreck…he’s been getting threats. Most of it’s been benign stuff we didn’t take serious. You know, he’s been getting punched. I know that’s what it is,” Murdaugh is heard saying in the recording. Waters appears to be trying to show that Murdaugh immediately offered a theory about the murders when police arrived at the scene.

9:51 A.M. — PROSECUTORS CALL 1ST WITNESS

Prosecutor Creighton Waters calls his first witness: Sgt. Daniel Greene with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office. Greene was the first officer who responded to the murder scene on June 7, 2021.

Greene describes arriving at the scene and finding the lifeless bodies of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. He says he spoke with Alex Murdaugh, who immediately began telling him about the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach. Alex Murdaugh appears to be crying in court as Greene describes the scene.

9:50 A.M. — WATCH THE MURDAUGH TRIAL LIVE

9:41 A.M. — EMAIL CONDEMNS JURY DISCLOSURE

Judge Clifton Newman opens court proceedings stating he received an email just before 6 p.m. Wednesday from a man named Chris Wilson. Wilson, according to Newman, complained about a violation of Newman’s court order that prohibited the public from disclosing the identity of jurors. Newman says he did not respond to the email.

Newman says he does not know whether this is the same Chris Wilson who is listed as a witness in the trial. That Chris Wilson is Bamberg-based attorney and longtime friend of Alex Murdaugh who has emerged as a key player in the ongoing saga.

9:35 A.M. — FIRST WITNESS TO TAKE THE STAND​

Prosecutor Creighton Waters and Murdaugh’s defense attorney Dick Harpootlian gave dueling, and compelling, opening arguments on Wednesday. Today, the first witness will take the stand.

9:27 A.M. — ALEX MURDAUGH’S FAMILY ARRIVES

Alex Murdaugh’s surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, arrives at the courthouse today for day 4 of the murder trial.

Alex Murdaugh’s remaining son, Buster, and his younger brother, John Marvin, have arrived at the Colleton County Courthouse.

Buster and John Marvin Murdaugh made a surprise appearance in court Wednesday. Both are listed as potential witnesses for the defense.

Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article271678687.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Seattle1]

LIVE BLOG: Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 5: More first responders expected to testify

Friday marks theRead More: Witnesses say Murdaugh wasn't seen crying or bloody on night of murders: Day 4 of trial

abcnews4.com

1/27/23

Live Blog -- Trial Day 5 - AM

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Friday marks the fifth day of the Murdaugh murder trial.

Court resumed around 9:30 a.m.



Last Updated: 10:06
↓


10:06

Court is in recess until 2:20 -- LUNCH


10:05

Now discussing documentation of bullet hole damage in window and collection of shotshell pellets from floor.



10:04

Audience can't see any of the illustrations the court is showing that would help explain what they're talking about on the stand.


10:01

Worley says the footprints were facing the window inside the feed room. Lots of blood and brain matter on the outside of the door, or the front, outward facing portion of the door swung open into the feed room.


09:59

Shoeprints in the feed room consistent with Paul's shoes, according to Worley.


09:57

Now discussing the footprints in the blood inside the shed.


09:57

Worley examining the shotshell wad, and two spent shotshells. Federal and Winchester ammo brands. They haven't clarified yet what payload the shotshells were. We've heard variously buckshot and birdshot, but also buckshot and turkey shot. Turkey shot is a different beast than regular small game loads like bird shot.


09:52

Shotshell wad on the floor, blood and tissue, pieces of skull. Several areas of bullet damage in the window. Blood and hair near top of the door. Two fired 12 gauge shotshells behind the door and hair behind the door. Shotshell pellets on the floor. Shells photographed and collected. Submitted to lab.



09:47

Worley now discussing Paul's body. Found lying face down outside the feed room covered in a sheet. Noted cell phone on top of body. Noted they processed the inside of the feed room. Shows photos inside feed room documenting lots of footwear impressions.


09:43

Worley was alerted to the 12 gauge shotgun Alex Murdaugh had at the scene. She retrieved it and unloaded it. Discovered the 16 gauge shotgun cartridge in the magazine. Gun was given to her by Sgt. Daniel Greene. Collected DNA swab from him since he'd been at the scene and previously touched the gun.


09:41

Worley notes it was raining lightly when she arrived. Maggie's body covered with a tent. Walked around scene, noted evidence marked by Colleton County, began looking for additional evidence and being briefed by agent Dave Owen.


09:36

Addressing issues defense brought up Thursday, Worley says it's not normal for SLED crime scene investigators to wear "booties" or other coverings besides gloves at outdoor crime scenes. Asked about "microscopic evidence." She says they don't carry microscopes.


09:33

State moves to qualify Worley as expert witness field of tire and footwear impressions. Qualified and accepted by state and defense.


09:32

Specialist in footwear and tire impressions, training in blood stain pattern analysis, shooting scene reconstruction, archaeology, forensic archaeology, clandestine graves, Senior Criminal Examiner. Nine times qualified as an expert witness in state court. Has worked around 50 cases related to footwear and tire exam,


09:29

Now on the stand, Melinda Worley, a forensic analyst for SLED. She was a crime scene investigator for SLED in 2021, now a footwear and tire examiner. Bachelor's degree in anthropology and forensic science, master's degree in forensic science, graduate certificate in forensic death investigation. Special agent at SLED since 2011.


09:24

Cirencione processed the cell phone the morning of June 8. Harpootlian asks if it had been a Faraday Bag to block signals or if she had been cautioned not to turn the phone off. She says it was not, she wasn't aware of what a Faraday Bag was, etc.. She basically says she didn't handle the phone in any special way nor did she receive instructions to. She also notes the passcode for the phone was written on the brown paper bag it was kept in.


09:20

Brief questioning by prosecution. Defense now in cross. Cirencione says her role at the time was an agent with the crime scene unit and helped process, document, collect evidence. Her role now is a special agent in the behavioral science unit.


09:16

Cirencione also collected cell phone from scene as evidence. Doesn't know whose.


09:11

Now on the stand Dalila Cirencione, a former SLED analyst. She took DNA swabs from Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.


09:09

Defense counters by questioning Rutland about the shorts Alex was wearing the night she saw him. She said they were green. Prosecution shows video. Shorts were actually green, not khaki in color, but they were khaki style shorts.


09:07

Rutland says it appeared to her Murdaugh's clothes were fresh, like he'd just changed, after questioning from prosecutor John Meadors.


09:06

Rutland: Paul fell face first outside of feed room, face hit gravel. (Could explain scratches?)


09:05

Rutland notes how tire tracks from dog caretaker truck matched tire marks under shed.


09:04

Prosecution notes how Rutland assisted in retrieving computer black boxes from Murdaugh's SUV, Maggie's Mercedes.


09:01

Prosecution in redirect now noting how so many of the things defense asked her about were SLED responsibilities but she was there observing and assisting.


09:00

Rutland says it was later explained that the truck was actually John Marvin's and Paul had been driving it, but John Marvnin had it that night and it apparently broke down on the side of the road when John Marvin was driving to the scene after the murders.


08:58

Rutland questioned about Paul's missing Ford F-250 noted by Chapman near the end of testimony Thursday. A search was conducted and it was found on the side of S.C. Hwy. 63 in Hampton County not very far away.


08:56

Backing up a second, Rutland said EVERYONE was a suspect the night of the shooting, which is why she and SLED agent Dave Owen asked about Paul's friends.


08:55

Let the record reflect the first time WCIV-TV was told "no danger to the public" was at 9:43 a.m. on June 8 by a spokesperson for the Colleton County Sheriff's Office.


08:53

Rutland again says she doesn't believe statement about "no danger to the public" in the immediate aftermath of the shooting came from the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. Capt. Jason Chapman said the same thing Thursday.


08:51

Rutland noted in her report there appeared to be brown hairs in Maggie's hands, scratches and possibly bruise on Paul's face. Says she was simply making observations.


08:49

Notes how dog caretaker Roger Dale Davis showed up to wash down kennels and tend to dogs on June 17 while she was there. Noted where he parked under the shed.


08:48

June 16-17, Rutland assisted SLED dive team searching ponds, waterways and Salkehatchie River for evidence of crime. Canvassed entire 1,700 acres property using ATVs. Searched Paul's F-250 pickup. Griffin notes all done with Murdaugh's consent.


08:46

Now Griffin notes Rutland met June 10, 2021 with Alex, Buster, Randy and John Marvin Murdaugh. All gave consent to have contents of their cell phones downloaded. All gave voluntary interviews.


08:44

Griffin is asking Rutland a lot of procedural questions about stuff only really SLED can answer because SLED took over the crime scene and investigation.


08:40

Griffin asking about the boot prints around the flip-flop / flat shoe prints under the shed. Griffin tries to suggest they're hers. Rutland says that's incorrect. She doesn't know whose prints they are.


08:36

Griffin asking Rutland about blood spatter, shotgun wad, holes in window in feed room where Paul's body was found.

08:35

Griffin asks if she was aware other law enforcement had gone around body and lifted sheet earlier. Had she seen shoe prints from those deputies who were close by? She says she did not.

08:34

Rutland asked about her testimony of no impressions, shoe prints, etc in blood around Paul. Asked if she did personal analysis or testing. She says no, observed with her eyes. Griffin notes how she hadn't gotten there until 12:22 a.m. Other law enforcement had already been there. Sheet was already over Paul's body.

08:32

Rutland acknowledges she never asked Murdaugh HOW he tried to turn Paul over. No specifics requested, not asked for more details about phone popping out, no details about how far he was able to turn Paul over if at all, and wasn't asked details about where he tried to check his pulse.

08:30

Griffin has Rutland clarify Alex told them twice he tried to turn Paul over, not that Alex tried to turn Paul over twice.

08:29

Griffin mentions how forensic crime scene investigators have ability to check shower and sink drains for blood residue. Rutland acknowledges, but doesn't know if SLED has that capability personally. Rutland observed as SLED agents collected clothing from Murdaugh's house.

08:21

Griffin now going over search warrant Rutland secured the night of the shooting.

08:20

Griffin: He looked clean, correct? Did he look like someone who'd just blown his head off with blood spatter going everywhere?
Rutland: Can't say that, lots of factors go into that, including distance.
Griffin: Well if he had looked like that, you'd have taken him into custody, correct?
Rutland: That wasn't my job that night.

08:18

Griffin starts by impugning Rutland saying she thought it was odd Murdaugh went to visit his mom with ALZ later in the evening. Griffin notes how Randolph Murdaugh III was in hospital and Libby wasn't doing well. Making sure Rutland wasn't criticizing.

08:17

Jim Griffin questioning Det. Rutland for defense.

08:16

Cross exam begins.

08:05

Court in recess for short break before cross examination of Rutland by defense.

08:03

Alex's clothes and shoes and phone and vehicles all were seized by SLED.

08:00

Rutland noted how there was no blood anywhere on Alex Murdaugh when they interviewed him. Arms, hands, t-shirt, short, shoes ALL CLEAN. No footprints or kneeling marks around Paul's body where blood had pooled everywhere and his brain was lying on the ground.

07:59

Rutland asked to walk down from witness stand to exhibit photo of Paul's dead body.
Confirms Murdaugh said he tried to turn over Paul twice.
Notes how Paul's hands and arms are underneath his body. Would've had to lift him and pull arms free to check pulse on wrists. Notes how he would've need to lift Paul's shoulder to check pulse on his neck.
Notes again how Paul's phone was lying on top of him.

07:54

P: Did Murdaugh ever say he'd been down to the kennels that night?
R: He did not.

07:54

Prosecutor asks Rutland if she's ever tried to move dead weight. She has. Prosecution shows her photos of Maggie Murdaugh. "Did defendant say where he checked her pulse?" Rutland: He did not.

07:53

Prosecutor asks Rutland what she thought about the story of Paul's phone popping out of his pocket. Harpootlian objects, sustained.

07:52

Video review from in-car interview showed times of texts on Alex's phone corroborating his statements.

07:50

Rutland reiterates how Murdaugh told them he tried to turn Paul over, tried to check pulses for both Maggie and Paul, Paul's phone popped out of his pocket at the time Murdaugh tried to flip Paul over.

07:47

Interview over. Rutland notes she thought it was odd that Alex went to visit his mother late at night because Alzheimer's sufferers tend to be worse at night.

07:44

Alex gets a phone call. "Don't let him come up here." Tells Owen it's Buster arriving.

07:43

Alex notes Paul was laying exactly as he is now when AM found him. He checked him, tried to carefully roll him over but didn't end up moving him,

07:41

Alex notes how he called Maggie's siblings to let them know what happened so they could go tell Maggie's parents in person. Buster is on the way to the scene.

07:40

Alex talks about his father in the hospital in Savannah. "He's doing OK given everything, but he's got a lot going on."

07:38

Alex checks phone. Shows where here texted Maggie at 9:08 saying he was leaving. Texted her at 9:47 when he was on his way back, after calling with no answer at 9:45. Tried Paul. No answer. 10:06 called 911.

07:35

Alex asked about the doctor visit. Routine stuff. Maggie got to the house later than he and Paul. Alex took a nap. Got up and left to go check on Mom. Texted and called Maggie. No answer. Says she normally answers right away, but that wasn't unusual.

07:33

Rutland asks if there are any cameras on the property. Alex says there are trail cameras for deer hunting, but none close to the dog kennels.

07:32

Alex says Maggie loves the dog, not at all uncommon for Maggie to be out at the kennels.

07:31

Paul had been working for Alex's brother John Marvin, and had come home to work on getting things ready to plant sunflowers. Alex mentions again how they'd rode around together. Maggie had doctor's appointment and errands in Charleston, and got back to the house late.

07:30

Murdaugh says the family has 20-25 guns on the property. All kinds. Rifles, pistols, shotguns. All kept in the hunting room in the house. Doesn't know for sure how many.

07:29

Owen asks Murdaugh where the gun came from he had on scene when deputies arrived. Alex says he got it from the house, retelling the chain of events from the 911 call.

07:28

Alex asked if any weapons were stored on the property.
"I know there was a 12 gauge shotgun out here (at the kennel). I'll have to find out when that was. I think it got put up, but I'm not sure." Can't recall what type it was. Camo, either Beretta or Benelli.

07:26

Rutland asks Alex how Paul has been handling the aftermath of the boat crash.
"I've never been prouder of him than the way he's handled the pressures and adversity in that situation. I mean Paul is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful kid. He can do almost anything. He gets along with almost anybody."

07:24

Agent Owen asks Murdaugh about direct threats related to boat crash. Murdaugh says he isn't aware, but admits a small amount of animosity between survivors. Most of the time, Alex says, it's people Paul DIDN'T know the people making threats and picking fights

07:20

Murdaugh says the guy wasn't working out on the job, but hadn't fired him yet. Name is CB Rowe. CB was off the day of the murders. Alex says he texted CB to call him, but hadn't heard back from him.

07:19

Murdaugh can't think of anyone right off hand who'd do this. Murdaugh tells wild story about caretaker recently hired at the farm. Says caretaker had told Paul story about being undercover agent working with FBI and Navy Seals to kill radical Black Panther operatives after FBI agent saw him in a fight with some Black guys.

07:17

SLED asks about Paul's friends.
Wills Chapman, Will Loving, Bobby Boyle from Columbia.
Nolan Tuten and Rogan Gibson local.

07:16

Alex says the family tries to keep details of the threats away from him, but it's his understanding Paul got the threats all the time.

07:14

Murdaugh asked if there's anyone who would want to harm them. Murdaugh says Paul has been punched, attacked, hit and threatened in response to the boat accident resulting in the death of Mallory Beach, online and in person.

07:12

Alex says Maggie and Paul hadn't been arguing or upset with each other.
Alex says he and Maggie had a wonderful marriage, no issues.
Alex says he and Paul's relationship was as good as it could be.

07:11

Owen asks why Murdaugh came to kennel. Had left to go to Mom's house (late stage Alzheimer's) while Dad in the hospital. Maggie's a dog lover. Alex knew Maggie had gone to the kennels when he left. Tried to call and text her when he left, no response. Got back home, nobody at the house. Figured they were still at the kennel. Drove up and saw the bodies and called.

07:09

Alex says he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary around the bodies or the scene. Said the first thing he noticed by Paul was the blood.

07:08

Says he tried to carefully take pulses from both Maggie and Paul. Admits he touched them both. Then he called 911. Called his brother Randy. Called one of Paul's friends who lived nearby.

07:07

Then Murdaugh says he actually tried to turn Paul over and his cell phone popped out of his pocket. He picked up the phone to see if he could do something with it, but put it back down quickly.

07:06

INTERVIEW: Murdaugh says he pulled up and could immediately tell it was really bad. "My boy over there, I ran over, I could see ... (begins sobbing) ... I could see his brain on ... "I ran over to Maggie."

07:01

Rutland goes on to interview Murdaugh with Dave Owen from SLED present and Murdaugh's attorney Danny Henderson. Says Murdaugh was coherent, not appearing under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and had no trouble answering their questions.

07:00

Rutland was contacted by investigators and Dick Harpootlian about the shoe prints in recent works.

07:00

Rutland noted how she thought the footprints appeared to be from a flat flip-flop type shoe. Asked about possibility of boot prints in sand beside the shoe prints being hers and Chapmans. She acknowledged.

06:54

These footstep tracks and shoe prints were noted several times yesterday.

06:53

Rutland also notes she canvassed the scene and noticed the fresh set of footprints that appeared to walk down and back in the sandy floor along the shed. They followed the tracks.

06:51

Before statement, state asks Rutland to back up and note what she'd seen. Blood on the ceiling in the feed room, holes in the window, shotgun wadding, drops of blood.

06:50

Rutland located Murdaugh standing behind his brother Randy's truck, and his "personal attorney," Danny Henderson was on scene. Murdaugh agreed to speak to them.

06:49

First thing she noticed was an overwhelming smell and lots of water on the ground at the kennels when she arrived. She notes the "obvious trauma" and brain matter, blood all over the ground and feed room around Paul. Saw Maggie on the ground. Was advised both had gunshot wounds to the head.

06:47

Rutland said she didn't know the Murdaughs, but did know vaguely about the boat crash. Was assigned as Colleton County's liaison to SLED agent in charge David Owen.

06:46

Det. Rutland was at home in Ridgeland (~45 mins from Walterboro) when call came in for 4147 Moselle Rd homicide. Stopped in Walterboro to secure a search warrant. Once she arrived at the scene, SLED and Colleton deputies were already on scene. "I was basically the last one there."

06:39

We're under way for Day 5 of the trial. First witness for the State, Detective Laura Rutland for the Colleton County Sheriff's Office is the first witness.

 

[Seattle1]

Witnesses say Murdaugh wasn't seen crying or bloody on night of murders: Day 4 of trial

Alex Murdaugh stands trial accused of killing his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, at the family's Colleton County property in June of 202

abcnews4.com

​

Trial DAY 4 - 1/26/23​

Sixth witness: Jason Chapman​

Jason Chapman is a deputy with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. He is a Colleton County native, firearms expert and expert witness in general police procedures in past cases.

Chapman was dispatched to the murder scene as well, about 15 minutes. He believes he arrived around 10:35 p.m.

Chapman said he was aware of Murdaugh through professional interactions.

While in route, Chapman was advised by Colleton County Sheriff Guerry "Buddy" Hill that the caller was Alex Murdaugh. With assistance, he also realized while driving that there was a storm approaching. Chapman instructed one responding deputy to bring a tent and assigned another to work on securing a search warrant. He also recalled via his notes that it was a hot and muggy night.

When Chapman arrived to the scene, he said sheets had already been placed on Paul and Maggie. Chapman said he prefers that doesn't happen before investigators arrive, but understands why it happens- usually to protect the family's feelings.

CCSO had notified SLED and asked them to take over the investigation.

Chapman said CCSO began processing the scene, which is typical for them to do while SLED is in route with a crime scene team. He said his CCSO team was well capable for handling the scene prior to SLED's arrival.

They focused on identifying and marking evidence, but did not collect it. They only collection they completed was a gunshot residue kit, which SLED requested.

 

[arielilane]

Alex Murdaugh is seen talking to cop and wearing clean white t-shirt moments after he 'found' his wife and son shot dead in pools of blood at his hunting lodge: Bodycam footage from night of double murder is released​

• Body cam footage lines up with police testimony that disgraced attorney had no signs of blood after calling 911 about the bloody double murder
• Prosecutors alleged Murdaugh shot his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in his South Carolina hunting lodge to distract from his legal troubles
• Follow the DailyMail.com's live blog of the fifth day in court here
  

  Alex Murdaugh is seen wearing a clean white t-shirt in new bodycam pic

  New images from police body cam footage shows Alex Murdaugh wearing a clean white shirt on the night of his wife and son's murder, which he is accused of committing.

  www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[arielilane]

Cop Says Alex Murdaugh Had No Visible Blood on Him After Killings, But Might Have Changed Clothes​

Alex Murdaugh's trial in South Carolina is expected to last three weeks​

Murdaugh's lawyer, Jim Griffin, told the court that Murdaugh had given the authorities permission to search his entire Moselle estate in Islandton, S.C., after the double murder — implying that a guilty person would do no such thing. He also emphasized that Murdaugh had no blood on himself when cops arrived at the house.

During cross examination, Griffin asksed Det. Laura Rutland, "He didn't look like someone who had just been within feet of blowing Paul's head off, right?"

Alex Murdaugh Had No Blood on Him, Might Have Changed Clothes: Cop

Alex Murdaugh's trial in South Carolina is expected to last three weeks

people.com

 

[arielilane]

 

[Seattle1]

1/27/23

Live Blog -- Trial Day 5 - PM

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Friday marks the fifth day of the Murdaugh murder trial.


10:06

Court is in recess until 2:20


11:25

Live blog resuming. Court back in session.
Worley back on the stand for the state.


11:27

Pellets from shotshells in feed room entered into evidence, along with photos of Maggie Murdaugh's body covered in a pink sheet on the ground outside the shed.


11:28

Defense moving to have two exhibits placed under seal.


11:33

Worley notes Maggie's left arm was underneath her. Alex Murdaugh shaking and sobbing in court as they discuss his wife's death.



11:34

Worley notes a spent .300BLK rifle cartridge casing was found on the ground underneath Maggie's body, area of her knee, once they moved her body.


11:38

Worley further discussing the 5 total .300BLK casings recovered from the scene.


11:41

Worley notes all cartridge cases are headstamped S&B .300 AAC BLK.
S&B = Sellier & Bellot, widely-known ammunition manufacturer



11:46

.300 AAC BLK, .300AAC, .300 BLK are all synonymous. .300 AAC Blackout is the proper full name. It's a 7.62mm / .30 caliber intermediate rifle cartridge. It was noted during pretrial bulk boxes of the S&B brand 147 gr. .300 BLK rounds were found at the Murdaugh's property. (147 gr. = 147 grains, with grains referring to the unit of measurement denoting the weight of the bullet. 147 grains is about a third of an ounce.)


11:50

Worley reviewing what's seen surrounding the shell casings in crime scene photos. Notes possible hair and brain matter around one.


11:51

Worley notes a disturbance in the gravel found by the sheriff's office near Maggie's body. SLED probed it and found several metal fragments.


11:56

Worley notes projectile collected from dog beg inside kennel, and what appeared to be organic / tissue material near the bottom front of the ATV inside the shed, which was closest to Maggie's left side.


12:04

Worley now discussing tire markings. Remember, she's a specialist and has been qualified as an expert witness on this topic.



12:05

Worley didn't analyze any tire impressions on the scene except for those of the dogs' caretaker. They were present at the stall in shed / hangar where he usually parked. Says she'd be unable to do any analysis of tire impressions on grass like those mentioned in earlier testimony.


12:06

Moving on to gunshot residue kits provided to her on June 9.


12:11

Took custody from SLED of 3 shotguns, a rifle, fired and unfired ammo, empty ammo boxes, night vision scope on rifle, 30 round magazine, cartridge casings from crime scene, unfired .300BLK round taken from mismatched ammo box on shelving near gun storage rack, empty .300BLK ammo box collected from gun storage room, 3 empty ammo boxes from trash. Took them all to SLED lab.


12:12

Now moving on to discuss with Worley Alex Murdaugh's Chevy Suburban found at the scene.


12:12

Court taking a short break.


Court resuming.


12:17

Worley reviewing 16 gauge shotshell collected from back floorboard of Murdaugh's Suburban. She acknowledges she mislabeled it on documents originally as 12 gauge.


12:20

Suburban towed from the scene on the 8th, day after the shooting. SLED returned to process it for evidence on June 9. Wasn't sure if it was looked into for evidence before that. Found shell casing, then tested it for blood.


12:22

Used light and chemical testing to search for blood in the Suburban. 10 areas total. Lock buttons, armrest, running board, floor board, front edge of seat, steering wheel, center of driver seat back, front passenger door above arm rest, front passenger seat bottom, front passenger seat back.


12:24

Swabs from SUV were presumptive for blood. Steering wheel.


12:28

Worley went back later to do retrieve seatbelt for further testing. Entire seatbelt assembly entered into evidence.


12:29

It's taking Worley so long to unpackage the seatbelt Judge Newman has the court take stretch break


12:45

Court back in session. Resuming discussion of the seatbelt.


12:47

Now admitting into evidence .300BLK rifle cartridges found in Paul's truck on the side of the road.


found in Paul's truck on the side of the road.


12:48

Moving discussion to Maggie's Mercedes. Two swabs each from interior and exterior door handles.


12:51

Moving onto Paul's autopsy. Entering into evidence shotgun wad taken from Paul's left chest and shoulder, and projectile fragments collected from Maggie's body during autopsy.


12:52

Entering shotgun pellets and fragments from Paul's autopsy into evidence.


12:53

Entering metal fragment caught on Maggie's dress into evidence.


12:56

More autopsy evidence: Paul's fingernail clippings, shotgun pellet among Paul's clothing, Paul's New Balance athletic shoes, which were compared to bloody prints in the feed room.


13:01

Now moving on to test of Alex's clothes. Tested them with LCD leucocrystal violet. Chemical used to test for hemoglobin from blood. If it reacts, turns purple. Can also react with bleach and rust. Shirt reacted presumptive positive.


13:02

Worley admits problem with LCV is it oxidizes and eventually anything it contacts will turn purplish-blue.


13:02

Now moving onto search of Murdaugh house and property at Moselle.


13:09

Several samples of .300 BLK ammunition found inside Murdaugh's house, collected for evidence.


13:09

Court is taking another stretch break.


13:12

Worley now reviewing ammo collected from inside Murdaugh's house.



Several .300 BLK taken from home, 10 from bookshelf in gun room, 4 from desk in living room.


13:21

More ammo from Moselle entered into evidence.
Eight unfired 12 gauge shotgun shells: 7 from two places in gun room, one from Paul's nightstand.


13:25

And even more ammo going into evidence:
.300BLK from gunroom
.300BLK from black Ford F-150 under driver seat
Harpootlian objects to intro of .300BLK from under truck seat arguing relevance. Overruled.
Two magazines containing .300BLK, one from gunroom, one from under truck seat.



13:26

Worley says truck was parked on the property at the residence the following day. It had been parked in front of the residence.


13:30

PSA P-15 rifle with night vision scope entered into evidence.


13:31

Projectile found lying on the ground near tire impression entered into evidence.


13:34

Worley says she took 4 swabs of suspected blood from the outside of the shotgun Alex had at the murder scene, then swabbed the inside of the barrel before using dowel rod to push free the 16 gauge shell that had gotten lodged in the barrel because it wasn't the right size.


13:34

Worley says she noticed the suspected blood while retrieving it from the sheriff's office Capt. Greene for exam.


13:38

Finally, several items entered not as evidence but for identification only.


13:38

Court in recess for the weekend.

This concludes today's blog.

 

[arielilane]

Opening statements given in former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial​

Prosecutor: Family weapon was used to kill wife​

In his opening statement Wednesday, Waters walked the jury through a minute-by-minute timeline of the family's movements the night of the killings and forensic evidence the state will present, including cellphone data, ballistic evidence, video statements from Alex Murdaugh and body-worn camera footage from the crime scene.

Waters said that although Murdaugh claimed he was never at dog kennels at the family's estate, the voices of Murdaugh, his wife and his son can be heard on cellphone video taken by Paul Murdaugh around 8:45 p.m. on June 7, 2021 near where the alleged murders took place. He said minutes after that video was taken, Murdaugh shot his son with a shotgun and then shot his wife with a rifle inflicting "catastrophic damage."

Waters said ballistics evidence would show a "family weapon" was used to kill Maggie Murdaugh. He said Alex Murdaugh purchased three AR-style rifles, two of which are missing.

He said Murdaugh's phone did not show any activity from around 8 p.m. until just after 9 p.m. when he called his wife twice before driving to Alameda to visit his mother who has Alzheimer's disease. Murdaugh returned home just after 10:00 p.m. and called 911 to report the killings, Waters said.

After the killings, gunshot residue was found on Murdaugh, the seatbelt of his vehicle and a rain coat found at his parent's home, according to Waters.

"You are going to see what he did to Maggie and Paul, and it is going to be gruesome," Waters said. "This has been a long, exhaustive investigation, but you will reach an inexcusable conclusion, that he murdered Maggie and Paul."

Opening statements given in former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial

Attorneys delivered opening statements Wednesday in the trial of ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who is charged with killing his wife and son.

www.usatoday.com

 

[arielilane]

Opening statements given in former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial​

'He is innocent:' Defense attorney says in opening statement​

Defense attorney Harpootlian began his opening statement by describing Murdaugh as a loving husband and father. Harpootlian said a Snapchat video taken by Paul Murdaugh an hour before the killings showed the pair having a good time and it is "not believable" that Murdaugh could have killed him a short time later.

Harpootlian told the jury there were no eye witnesses to the shootings and no forensic evidence such as fingerprints or blood tying him to the scene. He graphically described the injuries Paul Murdaugh suffered and said the perpetrator would have been covered in blood, but none was found on Murdaugh's clothes from the night of the killings.

He also refuted Water's claims about ballistic evidence, saying prosecutors can't conclusively tell where the fatal shots came from because they do not have the weapons used.

Harpootlian questioned whether there was enough time for Murdaugh to have killed his family, gotten rid of evidence and began driving to his parent's home. He said given that two different guns were used, it's "much more likely there were two people" responsible. He did not identify another possible suspect in the killings.

"He didn’t do it. He is innocent," Harpootlian concluded. "He would require a verdict of not guilty from you. That's the law. That's your oath."

Opening statements given in former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial

Attorneys delivered opening statements Wednesday in the trial of ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who is charged with killing his wife and son.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Betty P]

I didn't find this posted earlier, so am adding it here. Hope its ok! Video of opening statements of both prosecution and defense.

 

[Seattle1]

Judge approves settlement between Murdaugh estate and Beach family

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) — A settlement between the family of Mallory Beach and the estate of Alex Murdaugh’s murdered wife Maggie Murdaugh is now official. The deal brings to an end the c…

www.wsav.com

1/25/23

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) — A settlement between the family of Mallory Beach and the estate of Alex Murdaugh’s murdered wife Maggie Murdaugh is now official.

The deal brings to an end the civil lawsuit against the estate filed by the Beach family connected to the boat crash back in 2019 that killed Mallory.

[..]

Included in the settlement, Morgan Doughty, Miley Altman and Connor Cook, all passengers on the boat that night, will get an undisclosed amount of money.

Along with a variety of legal fees, Maggie’s son Buster Murdaugh will also receive $530,000 in the deal.

The proceeds will come from the sale of the family’s 1700-acre Moselle property, which is on sale for $3.9 million.

The settlement had been challenged by John Parker, the head of the Parker Law Group (formerly PMPED). Alex Murdaugh had signed a confession of judgment in connection with a loan made by Parker to Murdaugh for $477,000. Parker claimed he should be paid that money before anything was paid out to the Beach family.

Tuesday a judge denied that claim and ruled the settlement can be approved.

Alex Murdaugh will not receive any money from the estate in this settlement.

 

[Seattle1]

Judge approves Mallory Beach wrongful death lawsuit settlement for Buster, Maggie Murdaugh

A judge has approved a settlement between the family of Mallory Beach, the young woman killed in a boat crash in 2019, and two of Alex Murdaugh’s family members, according to Beach family attorney Mark Tinsely.

www.wtoc.com

1/25/23

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - A judge has approved a settlement between the family of Mallory Beach, the young woman killed in a boat crash in 2019, and two of Alex Murdaugh’s family members, according to Beach family attorney Mark Tinsely.

Maggie and Buster Murdaugh’s names have been dropped from the lawsuit.

[..]

Tinsley said he does not know exactly how much this settlement will award the victims of the crash, but predicts it will come out to roughly $700,000. That exact amount will depend on how much the Murdaugh’s Colleton County property sells for. That’s the same property where Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot to death in 2021.

This agreement also approves the settlement in lawsuits from two of the other boat crash victims, Morgan Doughty and Miley Altman. While they survived the 2019 crash, the pair filed identical personal injury lawsuits listing Buster and Maggie’s estate as defendants.

[..]

After years of litigation involving Maggie’s estate, the Beach family attorney said the estate has accrued approximately $290,000 in attorneys’ fees and dismissing it from the lawsuit would ensure there is money left over for his clients.

[..]

Tinsley said it was important to Beach’s family that Buster Murdaugh be dropped from the lawsuit due to the tragic circumstances surrounding his mother and brother’s deaths. But he also said the ongoing wrongful death lawsuit against Alex Murdaugh, Paul Murdaugh, and Parker’s is far from over.

A copy of the settlement agreement is below:

FILE_3613.pdf

drive.google.com

 

[Seattle1]

Alex Murdaugh's Defense Slams 'At-Home Science Fair Experiment' Allegedly Conducted by Blood Spatter Witness, Says Prosecutors Would-Be Expert Violated Court-Order

In a motion, the defense seeks to exclude all blood spatter testimony by a potential expert who changed his opinion after being visited by law enforcement.

lawandcrime.com

Jan 18, 2023

Defense counsel for disbarred attorney Richard “Alex” Murdaugh filed a motion on Wednesday, alleging prosecutors and a potential expert witness for the state violated a court-ordered discovery ruling issued late last month.

[..]

In the 63-page motion for sanctions provided to Law&Crime by Murdaugh’s legal team, the defense is asking a judge to prohibit the state from offering testimony regarding blood spatter by Tom Bevel, a former Oklahoma police officer who owns and operates a self-described forensic education and consulting company.

The motion also aims to exclude any such testimony from any of Bevel’s principals, associates, or employees and would prohibit the state or anyone else from relying on Bevel’s work product in the double murder case against Murdaugh, 54, so far.

The issue in question is the white T-shirt the suspect was wearing on the night he called police to report his wife, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, 52, and son Paul Murdaugh, 22, had been shot to death. The case has made national headlines since the gruesome discovery near the dog kennels on his family’s property, the 1,770-acre hunting lodge known to locals as Moselle, in 2021.

Murdaugh insists that any blood on the shirt was transferred there when he touched the bodies after he found them and “frantically checked them for signs of life,” a previous defense motion says. The state claims that at least some of the blood is high-velocity impact spatter from one or both of the victims.

The prosecution’s position relies on a secondary report issued by Bevel – a report issued after an initial report found no stains on the shirt consistent with blood spatter that would come from a gunshot.

The second Bevel report, cited in the latest defense motion, says that “100+ stains are consistent with spatter on the front of the t-shirt.”

1/18/23 - Defense Motion for sanctions copy:

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23580607/murdaugh-motion-for-sanctions.pdf

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1619355158076592130

 

[Seattle1]

LIVE BLOG: Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 6: Jury to hear from more witnesses

A new week begins in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial.Court is expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. Monday with more witness testimonies focused on the night of the m

abcnews4.com

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A new week begins in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial.

Court is expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. Monday with more witness testimonies focused on the night of the murders of Alex's wife and son, Maggie and Paul.

1/30/23: Trial Blog -- Live Stream, DAY 6, AM


Jury excused. Court breaking for lunch.


a minute ago

June 13 search resulted in location of another magazine with .300BLK and .300BLK shell casings.

2 minutes ago

Prosecution moving ahead to date of June 13 when SLED returned to the property for additional search. Again looking for firearms evidence

3 minutes ago

Trash shows credit cart statement with item circled. Gucci store for $1,021.10. Someone had circled the entry.


2 minutes ago

Trash reveals empty ammo boxes, specifically 12 gauge Federal Premium, Winchester Longbeard Xr 3.5" No. 4 and Browning TSS 3.5" No. 7 & No. 9 duplex shot turkey loads.

7 mins ago

Videos are done, taken in the early morning hours of June 8. Now moving to later search at the shed. SLED was specifically looking through the trash at the shed looking for garbage taken out of the house.


15 minutes ago

Brass on casings was tarnished. Dirt inside. Croft notes they had been sitting there a while.


16 minutes ago

Croft gets a phone call from SLED Capt. Ryan Neil. Notices the weathered .300BLK shell casings beside the stoop. Asks agent to come outside to collect them.


18 minutes ago

We're just sort of skipping ahead through the video at this point.


27 minutes ago

State brings back the Benelli shotgun entered earlier. Griffin objects again.
Two turkey loads in the gun. Winchester Longbeard XR 3-inch No. 4 shot, and Federal No. 7 shot 3.5-inch.
Updated: 24 minutes ago


27 minutes ago

Prosecutor Creighton Waters responds to another objection by Griffin over relevance. He says it's important to show all these guns to demonstrate how extensively the state tested the weapons in the home to discover if they were the possible murder weapons. Waters adds a analyst will be in court later to testify about the subject.


32 minutes ago

State backing up to introduce the 12 gauge pump shotgun referenced on the video a few minutes ago. 2.75-inch turkey load in the gun. They didn't really address the Benelli shotgun.
Updated: 25 minutes ago


32 minutes ago

State now introduces yet another gun to evidence. A Benelli 12 gauge shotgun.


33 minutes ago

Croft noted that there was a 12 gauge pump shotgun found in the gunroom with the breach ope and a shell waiting on the extractor ready to be loaded int the chamber.


34 minutes ago

Defense attorney Jim Griffin objects to the relevance of both he .300 BLK rifle and the Browning 12 gauge shotgun being introduced into evidence, arguing irrelevance because they weren't used in the killings.


38 minutes ago

State now showing the 12-gauge Browning shotgun taken from the residence.


43 minutes ago

Rifle equipped with a thermal night-vision sight.


43 minutes ago

The magazine and ammo contained in the gun (Sellier & Bellot .300 AAC BLK) have been introduced along with the gun. Croft says that's the same type of ammo used to kill Maggie Murdaugh.


44 minutes ago

State has introduced into evidence the .300 Blackout rifle that was collected from the scene. Croft is showing it to the jury.


an hour ago

Croft now notes attorney Chris Wilson has come to Murdaugh's house during the aftermath of the murders. Wilson is Murdaugh's friend and law school roommate.


an hour ago

.300 AAC Blackout is the official cartridge name. It's shortened to .300 AAC, .300 BLK, .300 AAC BLK. AAC is short for the ammo company that originally developed the .300BLK cartridge.


an hour ago

Box was for .300BLK ammo using 147-grain bullets. (Grains = weight measurement; 147 grains approx. = .3 ounces.)


an hour ago

Croft notes collecting empty box of .300BLK ammo.


an hour ago

Croft notes Ronnie Crosby and Mark Ball pointing out several things in the gun room.


an hour ago

Croft says no other .300BLK rifles were found in the gun room or anywhere else on the property.


an hour ago

Croft explaining the technical differences between .300BLK and .223 (5.56mm) round commonly used in AR-15 style rifles. .300BLK is a 30 caliber bullet compared to the 22 caliber .223 / 5.56mm round. Croft says .300BLK is a slower, heavier bullet, but has a greater impact than .223 and thus more "stopping power."


an hour ago

Mark Ball and Ronnie Crosby both points to .300 BLK rifle on the gun wall.


an hour ago

Several other of Murdaugh's attorney colleagues were on scene according to Croff's body camera. Lee Cope, Mark Ball and Ronnie Crosby. Last week it was noted Murdaugh law partner Danny Henderson was also on scene as Murdaugh's personal attorney when he was questioned by SLED.


an hour ago

Once again, none of this video is being shown to the courtroom or media.


an hour ago

State about to play body camera videos from Croft. One will be played with audio off because it contains witness statements in the background at the Murdaugh house. Those witnesses will be asked to testify in court later.


an hour ago

After securing items in house, Croft noticed .300BLK cartridge casings at stoop entering gun room and in flower bed on each side. They were weathered, but needed to be collected.


an hour ago

*NOTE: 12 gauge shotguns are commonly chambered to fire 2.75"-3.5" shells.


an hour ago

Croft was specifically looking for firearms similar or matching those used in the murders. looking for 12 gauge shotgun capable of shooting 3-inch magnum shells and an AR-style rifle chambered to shoot .300BLK.


an hour ago

Croft interviewed Gibson with Katie McCallister. DNA swab taken from Gibson. After interview, went to scene and briefed lead SLED agent David Owen. Then went to Murdaugh residence to secure firearms, ammo and other firearms related evidence. Went in with team.


an hour ago

More missed calls from Alex to Rogan.
10:25 & 10:30 p.m.


an hour ago

Missed calls from Alex Murdaugh to Rogan Gibson.
10:21 p.m. and 10:24 p.m.


an hour ago

Rogan sent text to Maggie at 9:34 p.m. "Tell Paul to call me."


an hour ago

Gibson to Paul outgoing calls.
9:10 p.m. 2 second call
9:20 p.m. 1 second call
9:42 p.m. 1 second call
9:57 p.m. 4 second call
10:08 p.m. 1 second call.


an hour ago

Phone call from Paul to Rogan at 8:40 p.m. lasted 4 minutes.
Phone call from Paul to Rogan at 8:44 p.m.
Texts between Paul and Rogan. Text from Rogan to Paul at 8:49 p.m.
"See if you can get a good picture of it. Marion wants to send it to a vet. Get him to sit and stay. He shouldn't move around too much."
Paul didn't respond to that text.
Rogan send another text at 9:58 p.m. "Yo."


an hour ago

Croft discussing interview with Rogan Gibson, Paul Murdaugh's friend. Gibson had phone conversations with Paul, Maggie and Alex Murdaugh of the murders. Croft took screenshots of communications with the Murdaughs from Gibson's phone


an hour ago

Next witness for the State: Jeff Croft, Sr. Special Agent for SLED.


an hour ago

Judge Newman is back at the bench. He begins by reading a note from the jury asking him to remind the audience the jurors are to remain anonymous. A cart obstructing the jury's view is also being removed.


2 hours ago

Worley allowed to leave stand.


2 hours ago

Court in recess.


2 hours ago

Dick in second cross examination immediately brings up the fact bio matter on ATV wasn't swabbed the night of the murders for testing. Worley isn't aware of swabbing or testing done. Dick also brings up the pool of water around Paul's body. Dick: "Did anyone ask you take a sample of that (water) to determine if there was human blood in it?' Worley: "No."


2 hours ago

Looking at photos of ATV that was parked near Maggie's body. Restates how biological matter was found on the front of the ATV. Dick objects because he says the biological matter was never tested. Could've been deer blood. Overruled. Goude has no further questions.


2 hours ago

Worley addressing footprints. Says it's possible the footprints by police could've been made after Paul's body was removed and after SLED photos were taken. Goude brings up dirt on Maggie's le. Reiterates how she's not even sure that was a shoe print.


2 hours ago

Goude asks Worley if it's possible that a person could move around while shooting, resulting in the different angles in the dog house and quail pen. Worley says yes. Goude asks if it's possible someone could use more than one gun. She acknowledges.


2 hours ago

Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude asks Worley if she's aware of stippling found on Maggie Murdaugh's body, indicating she was shot at close range. Worley confirms.


2 hours ago

Defense has no further questions. State begins redirecting.


2 hours ago

Dick has Worley again admit bleach and rust can lead to false positives using the leucocrystal violet (LCV) testing. Dick asks Worley if she knows the results on the confirmatory testing later with hemotrace. She doesn't. Dick says the later test showed no blood. Worley not aware of final results on shirt, shoes or shorts.


2 hours ago

First thing Dick asks Worley is if the shirt appears "completely" clean. She notes it does not. There are smudges, etc. Notes he'd been shown on video wiping his face. Notes smudges on the shirt.


2 hours ago

Moving to blood testing on Alex's clothes. Discussing the stains identified by SLED testing.


2 hours ago

Worley admits the photo of the mark on Maggie's leg was not treated according to standard with using scale, etc for photos. Worley admits it would've been better if SLED had done proper photo procedures. Dick asks if it's fair to say no one on scene that night appreciated the fact it was a possible footwear impression on Maggie's leg. She agrees. Dick says in fact, none of the photos taken that night were done according to that standard for documenting footwear. She agrees.


2 hours ago

Worley admits there's a distinct pattern but she wasn't able to contribute to a specific type of shoe.


2 hours ago

Dick switches to Maggie's body. Photo of back of her leg showing some sort of pattern in dirt / mud. Again, she wasn't able to process the thing on Maggie's leg.


2 hours ago

Dick asks if Worley had excluded Paul as the source for other bloody prints in the room. She says she thinks she accounted for all the ones SLED knew of.


2 hours ago

Dick shows Worley photo of other footprint in feed room. Worley says the photo wasn't taken by SLED, can't ID footprint.


2 hours ago

Dick: Do we know what other evidence the police may have destroyed?
Worley: "I have no idea."
Dick: "That's right. We don't.


2 hours ago

Harpootlian has Worley admit one of the bloody footprints identified was later determined to be a law enforcement officer. Worley says that's "not exactly" following standards. Worley agrees police shouldn't have been walking through the scene.


2 hours ago

Harpootlian brings up how if proper photos of footprints weren't taken, she wasn't able then to do comparisons? Worley says no, she was still able to do comparisons "and they were mostly Paul's shoes."


2 hours ago

Now discussing second shot that took Paul's brain out of his skull. Worley says she can't explain how he went from facing the back window to how he was facing the door again on the second shot, which was right near the door.


2 hours ago

Harpootlian asks if Paul's footprints were smudged as if he was turning? Worley says he was stepping in it while turning, but it wasn't smudged.


2 hours ago

Worley asked about fact Paul's bloody footprints show he was facing the rear of the feed room, yet the shot had entered his chest coming from the front of the room noted by the fact buckshot went through the back window, into window sill and into tree outside.


2 hours ago

Harpootlian brings up mud / dirt mark on Maggie's leg. Worley says she's not sure if it was a shoe mark or not. Couldn't test it.


2 hours ago

Process is to take general photo, then take a more in-depth photo for forensic analysis. Have scale down to show size, good lighting, 90 degree angle. Worley says that was not done on any of the foot impressions in the feed room because they didn't realize there were impressions in the feed room.


2 hours ago

Harpootlian switches gears to footwear impressions.


2 hours ago

Skipped over this, but Worley noted earlier she's not sure if bullet recovered from dog house was tested for Maggie's DNA.


2 hours ago

Harpootlian asks Worley to conclude that generally speaking, both gunshots into the dog house and quail pen came from a location "well to the right" of the feed room. She gives a sort of noncommital answer, but that's the impression.


2 hours ago

Note that Worley was found to have mistakenly identified a 16 gauge shotshell as a 12 gauge shotshell on official evidence document when state was questioning last week.


2 hours ago

Harpootlian draws attention discrepancy between Worley's scene notes and a report -- one saying 84 degrees, the other being 96. She can't explain that immediately, but is confident the real measurement is 84.


3 hours ago

Worley repeatedly answers "I don't know, I wasn't there," to Harpootlian's questions about the possibility of more than one shooter.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian asks if Worley can conclude one of the reasonable explanations for the different angles of the bullet holes could be 2 shooters. Harpootlian suggests a lookout could have been there to kill Paul, and the higher angle bullet could've been from the lookout after Maggie surprised them.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian uses diagram to show lines of shots into dog house and quail pen were "some" distance away from the feed room, not the feed room where Paul had been shot.


3 hours ago

Haarpootlian having Worley draw lines on exhibit for jury using protractor to show different angles of entry for bullet holes in dog house and quail pen.


3 hours ago

Switching gears to dog house. Bullet went in from side facing dog kennels. 84 degree angle of entry.


3 hours ago

NOTE: We can see none of this. Hard to depict to you what the jury is seeing and the portrait the defense is trying to illustrate.


3 hours ago

Worley says entrance of the bullet did not come from the direction of the feed room. It came from opposite side at a 41 degree angle.


3 hours ago

Worley says SLED put a rod through the bullet holes in the quail cage to determine the direction of the bullet.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian asking about measurements of the quail cage. Shows Worley diagram of quail cage she created.


3 hours ago

Slow going as the defense attempts to introduce evidence and load it onto the projector in the courttroom.


3 hours ago

Mentioned on Twitter, but don't think I did here: Attorney General Alan Wilson is in attendance with the State's prosecution team for today's proceedings.



3 hours ago

Court resuming


3 hours ago

Judge Newman stopped for a break at ~10:07 and sent the jury to the jury room. Unclear why. Testimony had only been going for about 30 minutes. Still in break as of 10:13


3 hours ago

Harpootlian asks about photo of bullet hole in dog house. Worley says the photo was trying to determine the angle of the bullet hole to see which direction the bullet came from..


3 hours ago

Harpootlian now brings up photos of dog house taken July 16, 2021 when SLED returned to reexamine crime scene.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian mentions the fact the model was apparently kept in evidence for a long time after it was completed in July or August 2021.


3 hours ago

Worley says FARO makes visualization using anything laser touches combined with 360-degree camera imagery. Layer after layer stacked on top of the other to create 3D model.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian remarks quality of the FARO rendering isn't very good.


3 hours ago

Court now seeing computer visualization created by FARO. Not visible to audience or media room.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian asking about FARO scan of crime scene. FARO offers 3D laser scanning. SLED used it to map the crime scene.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian asking Worley about the distance from the feed room to the small animal (quail) pen. Dick asks about the direction and angle from the feed room door over to those specific animal cages. Worley says she never took specific measurements.


3 hours ago

Worley confirms diagram not to scale. Harpootlian asks if SLED found bullets that went through a dog house and a crate. Worley says they only recovered one from dog house, but not one that went through crate.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian now going over crime scene layout and mock-up diagram with Worley.


3 hours ago

Harpootlian: "Walking in the dark increases the probability some trace evidence was disturbed?"
Worley: "That's why they started marking evidence."


3 hours ago

Worley says as few people as possible should be walking through crime scene. Other LEO's walking around likely walked through area perpetrator had walked.


4 hours ago

Worley affirms Harpootlian saying bloody footprint not from Paul Murdaugh but from a law enforcement agent was found in the feed room from where someone in law enforcement on scene had walked into the room.


4 hours ago

Starting off Day 6 with Dick Harpootlian cross examining SLED forensic specialist Melinda Worley.

 

[Seattle1]

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A new week begins in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial.

Court is expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. Monday with more witness testimonies focused on the night of the murders of Alex's wife and son, Maggie and Paul.

LIVE BLOG: Murdaugh Murder Trial, Day 6: Jury to hear from more witnesses

A new week begins in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial.Court is expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. Monday with more witness testimonies focused on the night of the m

abcnews4.com

1/30/23: Trial Blog -- Live Stream, DAY 6, PM


Afternoon session of court resumes with State questioning of SLED Sr. Special Agent Jeff Croft, who collected firearms from the Mudaugh home.


2 hours ago

Croft reviewing still images from his body worn camera.


2 hours ago

On Sept. 13, 2021, SLED went back to house. Collected .300BLK ammo from shelving in gun room. A .243 magazine with .300BLK ammo in it was also collected from a black Ford F-150 on the property. Second time we've heard that black F-150 mentioned. Defense objected the first time, but was overruled.


2 hours ago

State has Croft identify the ammo in a couple different magazines as Sellier & Bellot .300BLK. S&B .300BLK was the brand and caliber of ammo used to kill Maggie Murdaugh, based on shell casings found near her body.


2 hours ago

Shifting gears back to June 8, 2021. We're now talking about the efforts to collect Maggie Murdaugh's phone. It was found about 1/4th of a mile from Murdaugh house along Moselle Road. Passcode entered to ensure it would work, locked, then placed in evidence.


2 hours ago

State has entered Maggie Murdaugh's phone into evidence.


2 hours ago

State asks Croft about John Bedingfield, a SCDNR agent who has a firearms business on the side.


2 hours ago

Croft says he knew BEFORE this case ever happened that Bedingfield had built .300 BLK rifles for Murdaugh.


2 hours ago

Based on this, Croft contacted Bedingfield a day or two later asking for paperwork on the weapons he'd purchased. Bedingfield provided papers. Croft later called him back asking for papers on a third additional .300BLK rifle bought by Maggie Murdaugh.


2 hours ago

That third rifle Bedingfield assembled for the Murdaughs was in 2017 to replace one stolen from Paul.


2 hours ago

State introducing discs containing body worn camera video of Croft collecting additional shell casings on June 16, 2021, from Moselle property. Casings collected from shooting range on the Murdaugh property.


2 hours ago

Reason for search on June 16 was to probe pond on the property and the shooting range.


2 hours ago

Two 12 gauge shotgun shell casings collected near body of water where SLED divers searched on June 16.


2 hours ago

Ongoing discussion of "shoot house" at the gun range, where someone would sit to zero in the optics on their rifle.


2 hours ago

.300BLK shell casings collected from shoot house.


2 hours ago

State just went through about 10 minutes of SLED agents collecting .300 BLK cases from the shoot house, Waters stopping and starting the video with each new case found.


2 hours ago

Now transitioning to new body cam video of the 12 gauge shotgun shells found by the pond where SLED was searching near shooting range.


2 hours ago

State introducing video of Croft & SLED interview with Alex Murdaugh on June 10, 2021. Video playing.


2 hours ago

State circling back to Croft requesting documents on Murdaugh .300BLK rifle purchases from John Bedingfield, firearms dealer.


2 hours ago

Video of 2nd SLED Murdaugh interview begins with Alex taking phone call from "sister." Sounded like he said Marian. To our knowledge, Alex doesn't have a sister named Marian, but Maggie Murdaugh did.


did.


2 hours ago

Video begins with back and forth over attorney-client privilege over work related texts and emails on Alex's phone, which state wants to download the contents of. Murdaugh doesn't seem to be overly concerned about it, kinda "whatever."



2 hours ago

Murdaugh has small talk with one of the SLED agent and attorney Jim Griffin in the vehicle, parked in the yard of his brother John's hunting lodge. Mostly ''Do you know so-and-so?" stuff from Barnwell area of SC.


2 hours ago

Murdaugh notes that "Big John" Bedingfield from Barnwell is his cousin. Same guy who assembled the .300BLK rifles for him.


2 hours ago

Murdaugh recalls going to work that Monday morning, June 7. Can't recall specifics. "Dragging" a bit from the weekend. Was working on motions upcoming in a big Dominion Energy case and the Mallory Beach boat wreck lawsuit which was scheduled for Thursday that week.


2 hours ago

Murdaugh doesn't recall who was at house when he left or exactly what time. Believes Maggie was home. Wasn't sure if housekeeper Blanca was there yet or not.


2 hours ago

Murdaugh left work early because Paul was coming home to plant sunflowers the next day. When Paul got home, they messed around for a few hours looking for wild hogs, shooting targets, checking on food plots at the hunting property. Waters asked Croft to note .300BLK is often used to shoot wild hogs.


an hour ago

Alex continues. Rode around duck pond, dove field, recalls Paul picking on him for how much better his planted corn was doing than Alex's. Alex now visibly shaking, appearing to sob in court.


an hour ago

Alex they rode around for about 2 hours, before dark. Maggie was in Charleston for doctor's appointment.


an hour ago

Alex notes they stopped and did target shooting with .22 magnum, a small caliber rifle / pistol round. Alex notes Paul shot twice, he shot once.


an hour ago

Alex says they went home, Maggie got home, had dinner together like they usually do. Notes Paul had been experiencing high blood pressure. Feet had swollen recently. Maggie was pressuring him to go to the doctor. Maggie was worried sick about it, "big huge deal."


an hour ago

At some point, Maggie left to go to the kennels. Wasn't sure where Paul went but knows he left, and ended up at the kennels based on how he found him later. Alex says he stayed behind at the house, looked at his phone, watched TV, fell asleep. Felt like he heard a car pull up to the house during that time, but nobody came in, so apparently not.


an hour ago

Alex notes how he woke up from his nap, texted / called Maggie to let her know he was leaving to go to his Mom's house, and left. Noticed what he thought was a wild cat run across the driveway. Mentions that as something that sticks out in his mind, wonders if it could've been a person.


an hour ago

Alex drove to his Mom's, made a few phone calls to Buster, his brother John and his friend Chris Wilson. Stayed at his Mom's a while, talked to caregiver Shelly who lives with her. Drove home, nobody was home, drove back to kennels. Didn't see anybody else around. Went over and knew it was bad, and called 911.


an hour ago

Murdaugh says he was freaked out, drove back to the house to get a gun. SLED begins asking about who would want to come after Paul & Maggie. Alex says he can't think of anybody - no idea - who would go to that extreme.


an hour ago

Murdaugh says Paul's friends would have a better idea of who was threatening him. Alex says it was usually stuff about the boat crash. Goes into discussion about who Paul's friends are, Wills Chapman's name comes up again. Paul had been in Charleston the weekend before the shooting with several friends.


an hour ago

Alex says Paul's worst qualities were due to his ADHD. Irresponsible and scatter-brained. Jumping from one thing to the next. Irresponsible with guns, clothes, even his Dad's boats. Leaves them "strung out all over the state."


an hour ago

Moving now to Maggie. Alex says her doctor's appointment was because of a couple little things going on. Says she got home sometime after he and Paul had gone out riding around. She was home when they got back, but didn't believe she'd been home too long.


an hour ago

Blanca cooked dinner that night.


an hour ago

Alex says relationship with Maggie was very good. Good as it possibly could be. Wonderful. They didn't really argue about much. Only primary source of friction was Maggie tended to want to spend more time with her inlaws and family on visits than he and the boys did. Nothing serious.


an hour ago

Alex breaks down sobbing, saying Maggie was a wonderful girl and wonderful wife, great mother. She didn't work and always said it was her job being privileged enough not to work to make sure Alex and the boys were always taken care of. She took care of everything, Alex said.



an hour ago

SLED asks if Paul and Alex went to the kennels the afternoon before the shootings. Alex says yes, briefly. They had actually been driving around in two different trucks at different points.


an hour ago

SLED asking about guns Alex owned. Alex says Paul would leave guns around everywhere. But says everything taken from his house after the murders was pretty much what they had, except for the shotgun he brought to the scene which SLED also seized.



an hour ago

Alex says Paul liked to ride around with his brother Buster's .300BLK rifle shooting wild hogs around the farm. Notes he'd bought both Paul and Buster each a .300BLK years ago, but Paul said his got stolen.


an hour ago

Continuing inventory of guns. Alex notes he has a shotgun in his bedroom, adds he later moved a lot of the guns to the large gun safe in the back room after the fact while Maggie's parents were visiting.


an hour ago

Court in recess for a break.



an hour ago

Court back in progress.


an hour ago

Picking back up with testimony about guns. Alex says they didn't keep guns out at the kennels ordinarily. They tried not to leave them there, but everybody sometimes did. Paul was the worst. He would "leave anything anywhere."


an hour ago

Alex notes the .300BLK rifle was not out at the kennels the night of the shooting. Alex says he never reported Paul's missing .300BLK stolen because he wasn't convinced it was stolen as opposed to Paul just lost it. Alex says he told John Bedingfield and other local officers about the missing rifle, but never officially reported it stolen.


44 minutes ago

Alex then mentions he thought for certain Paul's missing rifle was replaced with a new .300 BLK, but Buster didn't think they did. Alex takes a long pause, then adds it was his understanding the 3rd .300 BLK had been missing a long time too. Alex says the original .300 BLKs were identical except colors. Buster's was black, Paul's was tan. Paul's was the one missing. Alex is certain they replaced it.


43 minutes ago

SLED asks Alex about C.B. Rowe. Alex says he has talked to him. He's still employed for the time being, but Alex says he can't keep him because he's an idiot.


40 minutes ago

SLED agent explains because of the secluded, isolated area of the Moselle property makes it unlikely someone randomly came out there to do commit the murders, so they're starting to look from inside out. Alex asks if that means SLED believes this wasn't random. Agent Dave Owen says he's not sure. He doesn't know what to think. Owen says they're going over evidence, and will need to get DNA sample from Alex.


39 minutes ago

Discussing possible killers, Alex puts forth tangent story saying Paul was an incredibly intuitive little dude, like a detective. Kind of trails off and doesn't really get to a point.
Updated: 7 minutes ago


38 minutes ago

Owen says they're trying to get into Paul's phone, asks if Alex knows the passcode. Alex says he doesn't. Adds it would be very, very, very surprising to him if ANYBODY knew Paul's passcode.


37 minutes ago

Agent Owen says videos from surrounding area of Islandton have been collected and are being reviewed by agents. Hours worth of videos.


33 minutes ago

Alex says last time he can't remember exactly if Maggie and Paul left for the kennels before he sat down on the couch, but knows nobody was there when he left. Last time he saw them was when they were eating supper.


32 minutes ago

Video shows Alex begins crying immediately after this exchange about last seeing Maggie and Paul at the dinner table.
Updated: 32 minutes ago


29 minutes ago

Jim Griffin in the interview brings up how Alex tried to check Paul for a pulse. Says he lifted him up in the direction away from the kennels. Agent Owen asks where Paul usually kept his phone. Alex says it was usually in his hand. In his hand or in his pocket.


28 minutes ago

Alex: "It's just so bad. I did him so bad." "He was such a good boy too."
Creighton Waters stops the video to have Croft repeat that for confirmation. Alex sounded to have said "I did him so bad."
Updated: 23 minutes ago


25 minutes ago

Alex says he didn't try to do anything with Paul's phone like try to unlock it when it fell out of Paul's pocket. Says he was conscious he didn't need to "mess anything up." Should be noted in first video interview shown in court Friday Alex said when Paul's cell phone popped out of his pocket "he started trying to do something with it then put it down." Somewhat of a contradiction.


20 minutes ago

Alex and SLED agents discussing Maggie's family for potential interviews. Alex says Maggie's sister Marian was the closest person to her in the whole world.

world.


21 minutes ago

Murdaugh discusses getting SLED phone number for Paul's friend Wills Chapman.


19 minutes ago

Murdaugh given victim's advocate information for solicitor's office. Mentions he's an assistant solicitor for the 14th Judicial Circuit, knows about the victim advocate process.


16 minutes ago

SLED now getting DNA swab from Alex. Alex asks if he needs to spit out his tobacco. I haven't been able to see these videos, but wondered if Alex dipping was why he occasionally opened doors during interviews to spit. That confirms it.


14 minutes ago

Court is ending for the day. Last things admitted into evidence were records regarding Alex's DNA swab.


14 minutes ago

Court will resume at 9:30 Tuesday morning.



Add 24liveblog to your site

 

[Puzzles8]

Fox News has done a nice job of recapping articles by day.
Recaps from Day 1 - Day 4 (January 25,26,27 and 30).

Day 1 - 1/25/2023 Wednesday

South Carolina legal scion Alex Murdaugh’s double-murder trial begins with opening statements

The South Carolina double-murder trial began Wednesday afternoon in the case against disgraced legal scion Alex Murdaugh, who is accused of gunning down his wife, Maggie, and their son.

www.foxnews.com

Day 2 - 1/26/2023 Thursday

Alex Murdaugh trial coverage: South Carolina lawyer stands trial for double-murder of wife, son

The murder trial for Alex Murdaugh finished its second day of testimony, Thursday, with prosecutors presenting evidence to suggest the South Carolina legal scion fatally shot his wife, Maggie, and their son, Paul, in 2021.

www.foxnews.com

Day 3 - 1/27/2023 Friday

Alex Murdaugh trial coverage: Investigators testify in South Carolina lawyer's double-murder trial

The murder trial for Alex Murdaugh wrapped up its third day of prosecutors presenting evidence that the South Carolina legal scion killed his wife, Maggie, and their son, Paul, in 2021.

www.foxnews.com

Day 4 - 1/30/2023 Monday

South Carolina legal scion Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial wrapped up Day 4

Alex Murdaugh, a former lawyer, assistant prosecutor and scion of a powerful South Carolina legal dynasty, is charged with the double murder of his wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, on June 7, 2021.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Seattle1]

What does Curtis 'Cousin Eddie' Smith know in Murdaugh case?

—Alex Murdaugh claims Curtis "Cousin Eddie" Smith is responsible for the death of his wife and son. I firmly believe that was what was gonna happen, " Aimee Zmroczek said Monday during an appearance on" Banfield. " But Murdaugh's attorneys now say that the man, who is known as "Cousin Eddie" to...

insurancenewsnet.com

1/26/23

(NewsNation) — Alex Murdaugh claims Curtis "Cousin Eddie" Smith is responsible for the death of his wife and son.

The attorney representing Smith, however, believes her client will be a star witness in Murdaugh's trial and that as a result, Smith's name will be cleared.

"I believe that when he (Murdaugh) lured Eddie out to the side of the road, he was gonna kill him and blame this whole thing on him ... I firmly believe that was what was gonna happen," Aimee Zmroczek said Monday during an appearance on "Banfield."

[..]

Zmroczek assured "Banfield" on Monday that Smith will be "telling the truth." She also confirmed that there haven't been any conversations about a plea deal regarding Smith.

"The basic story has not changed and that honest truth will be told when Eddie is sworn under oath to tell the truth," Zmroczek said.

 

[Seattle1]

Defense faults crime scene collection in Alex Murdaugh trial

Defense attorneys in South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial continued Monday to question the way state agents collected and analyzed evidence in the shooting deaths of Murdaugh's wife and son. Murdaugh, 54, is standing trial on two counts of murder in the shootings of his...

insurancenewsnet.com

1/30/23

State Law Enforcement Division Special Agent Melinda Worley testified for hours Friday for the prosecution about evidence collected, including photographs of the bodies, shotgun pellets and DNA swabs from the scene, clothes and fingernail clippings from the autopsies and other items.

In Monday's cross-examination, defense attorney Dick Harpootlian honed in on several items, including identifying footprints, one of Worley's specialties. She told him one of the footprints in blood near where Murdaugh's son was shot came from a deputy.

“Is that the preservation of the scene that your standards require?" Harpootlian asked.


“Not exactly, no," Worley responded.

Harpootlian also had Worley come off the stand and work on a rough diagram of the angles of the shots fired at Paul and Maggie Murdaugh, pointing out a significant disparity between the directions the shots at each victim came from.

Worley said that can happen when a shooter is moving.

“One explanation would be movement. One explanation would be two shooters,” Harpootlian said.

The defense attorney also pointed out a few mistakes in Worley's work. For instance, Worley had examined a shotgun that Alex Murdaugh said he'd grabbed to possibly defend himself after finding his wife and son. Harpootlian said the special agent incorrectly determined that the shells inside the shotgun were the same size, when, in fact, they were different sizes. The defense attorney also noted that the angle of a gunshot was given in different degrees in Worley’s scene notes and her final report.

[..]

Later Monday morning, another state agent testified about the timing of phone calls and texts from a friend of Paul Murdaugh. Earlier evidence has suggested that Alex Murdaugh, his wife and son were all by the kennels about four minutes before the victims stopped using their cellphones. Cellphone data shows Alex Murdaugh left the area to visit his ailing mother about 20 minutes later.

Senior Special Agent Jeff Croft testified about guns, ammunition, and fired casings gathered from the Murdaugh home after the killings, showing at least four different shotguns and rifles to the jury and testifying that the Murdaughs kept the weapons loaded in their gun room.

Prosecutors in their opening statement said the guns that killed Paul and Maggie Murdaugh have not been found, but markings on casings found around the home that may have been used for target practice matched casings found at the scene.