SC - Paul Murdaugh & mom Margaret Found Shot To Death - Alex Murdaugh Accused - Islandton #33

[clearskies1]

I wasn't able to listen to a lot of today's testimony. Did the Defense actually make any new points that a reasonable juror might think matter?

 

[Jolynna]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Ellick will serve many years in prison on other charges no matter what happens in this trial -

AM might find a white-collar prison full of less violent offenders (including drug dealers) to be preferable to his other prison options.

 

[Skigirl]

Let me get this straight.

PM is working in Okatie and using the old farm truck rather than his F150 Platinum that is exactly like JMM's. This is because PM's F150 is in the shop.

JMM gets a call from RM4 asking him if he can take RM3 to his doctor's appointment (in Savannah, I believe) as RM3 is having trouble breathing, but RM4 cannot make the entire trip himself as he has time sensitive appointments later in the day.

JMM agrees and they decide to meet halfway, in Ridgeland. RM4 drives RM3 to Ridgeland in RM3's car. JMM chooses to drive to Ridgeland in PM's old farm truck rather than his own pickup (which he leaves in Okatie for PM).

Why would JMM choose to take the old farm truck for this important trip where a breakdown would be a major inconvenience (since a breakdown could delay JMM meeting to pickup RM3 or, if the breakdown occurs after JMM and RM3 continue on in RM3's vehicle could delay RM4 from getting to his time sensitive meetings)?

Why wouldn't JMM take his own F150 and let PM take the farm truck?

Yeah, I agree. That story does not make sense. If your father is that ill and that fragile -- remember, he died three days later -- I cannot in a thousand years imagine driving him anywhere in anything but a very reliable, comfortable vehicle. The old farm truck story makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Gardenista]

The whole “the trees have grown since then” is odd. No one has said that a shooter hid behind trees or that one escaped through a forest of narrow trees or anything other than the dogs running to a treed area to do their business And some fruit trees that were leaning over. A weak attempt on the prosecutor’s side to prevent the trip unless I missed something about the trees.

There was testimony about hearing the gunshots from the house. I can't remember the witness or I'd post the link for you. That's what the prosecution was talking about.

 

[kaen]

I assumed it was to explain why Paul wasn’t there in his own truck, which I think Alex initially said Paul was driving? And maybe to subtly show that JMM himself was not there… What a mess.

If PM didn't have his usual truck, then would be assassins would not know he was there...just a thought.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

The issue with the trees would be sound dampening and ability to see the lights at the kennel and house. If it is seen as secluded, there would be more of a chance of the jury thinking that AM could not hear or see from the house or the road.

Ah, ok, thanks! Not much difference in a year and a half, to me, though.

 

[justtrish]

It is very clear to me, but for those that it isn't clear I think I can sum up my thinking like this:

The simplest most logical thing is almost always the truth. Paul was communicating with his friend about something that was ongoing and real time. He was on the phone with him for 4 minutes during which time that friend heard Alex in the background 8:40-8:44. Then at 8:45 Paul records a video to show his friend of the friends dog. That video was never sent. In that video we also hear Alex. He lied about being there during this time frame until he was faced with that video and his voice being undeniably on it. He said, I was never there.. didn't see them for 2 hours prior to finding them. Any evidence that Paul was alive and trying to text or answer any texts or calls coming in ceased just after that video was recorded. Maggie's phone shows no activity that would indicate she was doing it from that time on also. One man was there and lied.

In order for it to be anyone other than Alex, then we have to do all sorts of assuming and lots of giving grace to an admitted liar with many reasons to want them gone that all came to a head that day. So not only would he have to be deaf and blind to not see or hear his family being killed, but then he would also be the most unlucky person to have his financial crimes coming to a head that day by being confronted about them, his sons boat case coming to a head in just a few days, his drug use problem being in the hot seat of his wife and son (who happened to be the ones killed), and so now it's the prefect storm for him to looks so guilty, but also have a random person that came in and used the families guns to kill them while he was at the house not hearing it?

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

There was testimony about hearing the gunshots from the house. I can't remember the witness or I'd post the link for you. That's what the prosecution was talking about.

Thanks. Not much difference in a year and a half though.

 

[CityKid]

I missed the pants comment today, what was said? tia

John Marvin wants you to know that when AM had diarrhea in the car, he didn't have it in a toilet. He had it in his pants.

 

[Skigirl]

I wasn't able to listen to a lot of today's testimony. Did the Defense actually make any new points that a reasonable juror might think matter?

No, some boring forensic testimony that I doubt will change anyone's minds' and John Marvin who added absolutely nothing other than telling us a delightful anecdote about Alex Murdaugh pooping his pants and admitting that he knew his brother was lying about not being at the kennels because he recognized Alex's voice on the video. Oh, and that he thought that Mallory Beach's death was blown out of proportion.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

I can't believe that John Marvin testified that the boat crash was blown out of proportion. I think that was the most jaw-dropping statements I've heard in the trial, second to "Alex Murdaugh would like to take the stand".

Ack! I missed that comment. Unbelievable.

 

[Pruddennce]

question of the day: did you know your "Police Chief Friend" (paraphrasing with friend) was LOANED money by AM? answer: no. note: this was about a month after the murders. Greg Alexander, Yemassee police chief received $5k as a loan for his parents. how nice, other people's money.

 

[Diddian]

Yeah, I agree. That story does not make sense. If your father is that ill and that fragile -- remember, he died three days later -- I cannot in a thousand years driving him anywhere in anything but a very reliable, comfortable vehicle. The old farm truck story makes no sense whatsoever.

It makes just about much sense as RM4 not having his phone on him for the first of a couple of AM's calls that night - the same night that his father was in the hospital (so you'd assume one would keep a phone handy).

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Yeah that sounds like a pile of...malarkey

Unless, perhaps, it was not pronounced or in play at that time? Rather, might it instead be part of a new narrative?

I posted in a prior thread, that some of the video and photos of defendant in earlier times - and some as shown in the current Netflix three part series - sure doesn’t appear to show the expected appearance of one addicted to that as much as one might expect? MO.

 

[Loveallmyhorsesdogsandcats]

The whole “the trees have grown since then” is odd. No one has said that a shooter hid behind trees or that one escaped through a forest of narrow trees or anything other than the dogs running to a treed area to do their business And some fruit trees that were leaning over. A weak attempt on the prosecutor’s side to prevent the trip unless I missed something about the trees.

I think they are relating that to having a visual from the house to the kennels, being able to see lights, what you can hear, what the actual scene is at the kennels. I’m not a lawyer, but I think a lot of these objections they make knowing they will be overruled to be on the record for future legal battles should they arise. Such as the defense asking for a directive verdict to have the case dismissed due to lack of evidence when they rested their case.

 

[Love Never Fails]

I have a cousin whose 16 year old son shot himself in the head. They brought in a clean up crew to clean up the blood and brain matter, standard OP in SC.

I’m so sorry your family suffered that way.

 

[kaen]

Ah, ok, thanks! Not much difference in a year and a half, to me, though.

Possibly true unless the trees were a fast growing. A lolblolly pine can grow between two and ten feet a year. I would imagine they had planted those because they can also be harvested for wood pulp and replanted (then you can be sure to get a farm tax credit for sure).

 

[justtrish]

I don’t know, but since the prosecution asked about this truck and the defense (Imo) preemptively brought up the whole topic, there must be something significant about it that the prosecution will cover either in their rebuttal case and/or closing argument. Otherwise, why even mention this farm truck/logistics thing?

If I recall correctly, Alex told them they might have went to the kennels in Paul's truck. Since a truck was missing there was some alert for it and it was found on the side of the road. I think the suggestion being whoever killed them took the truck, but there ended up not being a missing truck. Alex would have known what truck Paul had so he knew there was no missing truck is my thinking.

 

[Skigirl]

question of the day: did you know your "Police Chief Friend" (paraphrasing with friend) was LOANED money by AM? answer: no. note: this was about a month after the murders. Greg Alexander, Yemassee police chief received $5k as a loan for his parents. how nice, other people's money.

And that doesn't even include the envelopes full of money that the younger Tuten brother testified to delivering to Alex when his Police Chief friend was present.

 

[Diddian]

AM might find a white-collar prison full of less violent offenders (including drug dealers) to be preferable to his other prison options.

I would think that would feel downright homey to him.