SC - Paul Murdaugh & mom Margaret Found Shot To Death - Alex Murdaugh Accused - Islandton #24

[geevee]

My hubby with plenty of criminal trial work in his past says that Harpootlian brought that up to show comradery with the witness -- "they are old friends." Hubby listened to much of cross on KK and sized it up as showing the jury they could trust Harpootlian -- he and KK were just two guys collaborating, trying to get at the truth with all the angles and speculation. Only hubby's opinion. I will add I think he also works at confusing the jury (with mirror image). OMO.

Added: Hubby's assessment is that Harpootlian knows exactly what he is doing. He may appear to be a doddering but he is totally calculating every word and gesture.

Same, same, I don't think a single thing the defense has done during this trial has been accidental or done without a specific purpose.

 

[skyedaze]

I'm so sick of seeing him wibbling back and forth every time the destruction he inflicted on his own flesh and blood is discussed....as if he needs comfort.
He caused it.

 

[geevee]

I wish we had a way to highlight (even more) really outstanding posts.

And I wish we could pin your post - it sums up so much.

I just wanted to Like Otto's post so many times.

 

[makayla]

Not a metaphor, but his relationships seem transactional. People went to him for legal assistance and, from the moment they met, Alex was sizing them up for what he can take from them. In 2011, when Paul was 10 years old, Alex sized up his law firm partners and figured out how to steal from them. They never noticed.

As long as his family made his life better, he kept them. When Paul and Maggie caused problems, he eliminated them. Buster feels like the privileged favourite child; his father loves him so much that he tried to kill himself so Buster could have $10 million.

Alex arranged the fake shooting because he wanted people to think that his entire family was being targeted by someone related to the boat accident. The money for Buster story is manipulation, to get him onside during the trial.

AM uses people, like any narcissist would. Just as a narcissistic female may love bomb a guy to catch him, AM has that same ability to size someone up, decide if they are of value to him, play the nice guy, charm them, use them, then dispose of them when they no longer serve his needs. It’s all about him getting his needs met and he no doubt tried to blame others for his misdeeds. It helped that he was from a prominent Southern family so people trusted him based on his background. It also helped that he lived in a small town where there was probably that “good old boy” network. It’s very sad that so many people’s lives were either ruined or lost because of him. All my personal opinion of course …

 

[10ofRods]

1. Not sure if an addiction was confirmed but he did go to a drug rehabilitation center for an opioid addiction.


2. AM/No log activity - 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.
Opening statements given in former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial

sorry to be a nit picker, but is it verified that she has Alzheimer's? I'd like to know only because that implies genetics.

Dementia is different from Alzheimers (and implies different genetics to me). So was mom an early dementia person who was formally diagnosed as having Alz. or was she suffering from the more common condition (senile dementia)?

I'm guessing that none of us know - but I find it relevant to AM and the case.

 

[rescuemom]

I don't see it as bumbling but it could have been. I believe CES carefully laid the barrel of the gun pointing upward against the back of his skull and pulled the trigger. I think this would create the crease-burn superficial wound as seen in the following pics.
Alex Murdaugh did not show signs of visible head injury during Thursday bond hearing

jmo...

There is no redness, no scab, nothing.

 

[BeachSky]

How many times have we seen this during the trail?? I love the shot of DH trying to stay awake and his head is bobbing.
Lol!!

And AM was twirling his life savers pretty fierce early in the morning….

JMO

 

[Derph]

OK, found a good re-enactment of the murders, bullet and shell paths by a retired crime scene investigator and former sniper. Check out True Crime Web on Youtube. He used mannequins and the similar firearms, ballistic gelatin and the right ammo to show what could have happened. It's gruesome so be warned if you're not into that kind of thing. Definitely worth seeking for a rundown of the scene.

 

[10ofRods]

Same, same, I don't think a single thing the defense has done during this trial has been accidental or done without a specific purpose.

Respectfully disagree.

Unless, of course, their main offense is that he can appeal due to incompetent counsel.

IMO, that's their best chance. I guess Griffin could be sacrificing his own reputation (and his firm's). The last few days seem to have only that purpose?

Respectfully, is that what you mean?

You could be right, but boy do I dislike the gamification of Justice.

JMO.

 

[skyedaze]

AM takes his victims and then adds insult to injury by trying to place the blame on them. Tried to blame the boat on other kids in the boat..instead of his own cr@ppy parentlng. Blames his actions and money stealing on his addiction, etc
But worst of all...he lets his lawyers try to get him acquitted by blaming the son he executed for the murders he committed.
That's a *** right there. That's who he is.

 

[Luna20]

Unless jurors in SC are extraordinarily simple-minded, which I doubt, it was borderline offensive to hear DH act silly and confused about angles of 135 and 45. What made it worse was that he was knowingly arguing nonsense with the witness while acting silly.

He was wasting everyone's time with his performance this morning, worse than usual. His usual tone is rude and condescending, but this was Dick Harpootlian acting like he didn't speak English.

Good to have you here @otto
DH is nauseating. I would be very offended if I were in his presence. His discriminations against notable professions and people are rudely overbearing. I wouldn’t want to associate with him even from a distance. He is perfect representation for Alex, they are made from the same cloth.

Today when he approached a witness with “what do you do, what are you called…a chief” it was repulsive.

 

[Megnut]

Good to have you here @otto
DH is nauseating. I would be very offended if I were in his presence. His discriminations against notable professions and people are rudely overbearing. I wouldn’t want to associate with him even from a distance. He is perfect representation for Alex, they are made from the same cloth.

Today when he approached a witness with “what do you do, what are you called…a chief” it was repulsive.

He called him .... a deputy.

But the witnessed was not fazed.

Still, the attempt to belittle is ugly.

JMO

 

[Lillymac]

DH is known for trying to confuse the jury.

While I know it's an absolute legal part of this trial, I am dreading a week or even a day, of the defense's side of the case. Lead defense atty. is so difficult for me to watch and the rest of them get worse daily. It's worse than the trial where the defendant represented himself. At least Darrell had an excuse! I've never seen more disrespect for a courtroom than the lead defense atty. has displayed. JMO

 

[arielilane]

Where can I read or hear Ryan Kelly’s testimony today? Finding just bits and pieces through Google.

Start @time 6:10:52

 

[rescuemom]

Off subject but it bothers me that AMs old toupee doesn’t match his white hair. I’m a retired salon owner, HA

Really? I'm usually pretty good at picking out a toupee. I see the color difference but thought he was turning white on the sides only. Also today his hair looked shorter than Monday or Tuesday when he was running his fingers through his hair. When his head was shaved I didn't notice any bald area. I'm retired 28 yr hair stylist and owner. If true, had me fooled.

 

[skyedaze]

BTW....I think the whole family is cr@p but....Randy tattled on AM making phone calls in the hospital. Is that correct?
I had lots of meetings to day so I missed the particulars on that. Does anyone know?

 

[arielilane]

AM uses people, like any narcissist would. Just as a narcissistic female may love bomb a guy to catch him, AM has that same ability to size someone up, decide if they are of value to him, play the nice guy, charm them, use them, then dispose of them when they no longer serve his needs. It’s all about him getting his needs met and he no doubt tried to blame others for his misdeeds. It helped that he was from a prominent Southern family so people trusted him based on his background. It also helped that he lived in a small town where there was probably that “good old boy” network. It’s very sad that so many people’s lives were either ruined or lost because of him. All my personal opinion of course …

Agreed. People are recyclable to him. He will use them, abuse them and throw them away like trash and never bat an eye. Entitlement. It’s all about him and what he can get and how he can be served. Moo.

 

[Soccerfan]

This is like a bad Ozark script

This is the best take of the trial by far. Not even close. The facts are so unbelievable that the prosecution is having a hard time convincing people it could be true.

 

[arielilane]

On the question of why he was stealing all that money when he probably didn't need it, maybe it's a like a Better Call Saul situation, where he's just addicted to the grift because he likes it.

It became a game. Moo

 

[Lillymac]

Really? I'm usually pretty good at picking out a toupee. I see the color difference but thought he was turning white on the sides only. Also today his hair looked shorter than Monday or Tuesday when he was running his fingers through his hair. When his head was shaved I didn't notice any bald area. I'm retired 28 yr hair stylist and owner. If true, had me fooled.

I don't think it's a toupee and that based on pictures I've seen where his hair was cut really short all over. Unless he lost hair really quickly. MO