one in all many essential extreme-profile true crime cases in current historic previous is having fun with out in a South Carolina courtroom.
Testimony is underway in the double homicide trial of disbarred lawyer Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, who’s charged with killing his spouse and son.
Murdaugh, an factor of a South Carolina authorized dynasty, was charged with homicide in connection to the 2021 capturing deaths of his spouse, Maggie, and son, Paul. Murdaugh has pleaded not responsible.
After the shootings in June 2021, police launched investigations into two completely different deaths related to Murdaugh and alleged prison acts relationship again greater than a decade.
listed right here are the particulars of the case:
Alex Murdaugh trial:compensate for all the pieces from the start.
Murdaugh jurors test optimistic for COVID
Two of the jurors in the double-homicide trial examined optimistic for COVID-19 forward of Monday’s courtroom proceedings. The clerk of courtroom additionally examined optimistic.
After the remaining 10 jurors and 5 alternates examined adverse, choose Clifton Newman decided to proceed the trial regardless of requests from each the prosecution and protection for a delay. one other spherical of assessments shall be administered Wednesday.
The remaining jurors will put on masks, as will testifying witnesses and questioning attorneys. The courtroom will stay as packed as earlier than, with 200-plus onlookers, who will not be required to don masks.
Newman, however, advocate safety measures. “inside the imply time, we’ll encourage everyone right here to masks up in your particular person safety as effectively as to the safety of these proceedings and every completely different,” he mentioned.
who’s C.B. Rowe?
Claude “C.B.” Rowe is a former Murdaugh worker.
Colleton County Sheriff’s office detective Laura Rutland, who served as a liaison to SLED for the investigation, testified earlier that Murdaugh provided up Rowe’s title as a attainable suspect inside the murders all by an interview the evening time of the killings.
mobile telephone information launched in courtroom level out Rowe’s telephone was was not inside the neighborhood of the Murdaugh property on the time of the murders.
Rowe, a groundskeeper for the Murdaugh property, is additionally an factor of the defendant’s alibi. In courtroom filings, Murdaugh says the evening time of the murders he drove to his mom’s house in close by Vanville and recognized as pretty simply a few people on the method all by which, collectively with C.B. Rowe.
all by Monday’s courtroom proceedings, SLED Forensic DNA analyst Sarah Zapata testified in tedious and inconclusive element about DNA samples, collectively with these found beneath Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails. Rowe’s DNA may not be dominated out however Zapata mentioned it was solely a “common probability” the combination was his and Maggie’s.
The overseas DNA from a male found beneath Maggie’s nails was not her husband or son Paul.
Gloria Satterfield’s son testifies
Tony Satterfield, the son of Gloria Satterfield, a former housekeeper for the Murdaughs, who died on account of a fall on the household property, took the stand Thursday.
Satterfield testified that after his mom died in 2018, Murdaugh approached him and his brother and promised to look after them, telling them he would permit a nice declare in the direction of his house-proprietor’s insurance coverage.
Murdaugh promised to safe $one hundred,000 for every of the grieving sons, Satterfield testified. however, primarily based on indictments and civil lawsuits, Murdaugh, collectively with fellow lawyer Cory Fleming carried out a scheme to coerce his insurance coverage corporations into paying roughly $4.three million — all of which Murdaugh saved.
“Did he ever pay you one dime?” Creighton Waters, lead prosecutor Creighton Waters requested Satterfield. “No,” he responded.
Chris Wilson testimony: Alex Murdaugh’s buddy takes the stand
Chris Wilson, a former shut buddy of Alex Murdaugh, took the stand noon Thursday. Wilson, a Bamberg lawyer, who has recognized Murdaugh since highschool, appeared as a witness for the prosecution.
Wilson testified to his household’s shock and grief on the demise of each Maggie and Paul, and described touring to Moselle, the household property, to comfort Murdaugh the evening time of the murders.
In his testimony Wilson instructed that each he and completely different lawyer buddies of Murdaugh did not want him talking to South Carolina legal guidelines Enforcement Division (SLED) officers alone as a end result of he was so distraught. “We felt that Alex wasn’t in a place that he needed to, or was even in a place to, converse to SLED with out somebody being with him,” Wilson mentioned.
In a earlier in-digital camera testimony, with out the jury current, Wilson described how shut he and his household have been to the Murdaughs, and the method he felt actually betrayed by Murdaugh’s monetary crimes.
“He was one in all my best buddies, and that i believed that he felt that method about me,” Wilson mentioned, his voice thick with emotion on Thursday.
As questions continued, Murdaugh hung his head and wiped away tears.
Colleton County Courthouse evacuated on account of bomb risk
On Wednesday, a Colleton County Sheriff’s office deputy was reported to be sprinting throughout the grounds of the Courthouse, yelling in a panic for people to clear the world.
At 12:27 p.m., choose Clifton Newman ordered the courtroom to be evacuated till as late as 2:30 p.m. Newman did not cite a chosen set off for the evacuation, however the South Carolina legal guidelines Enforcement Division confirmed that a bomb risk was reported.
a quantity of pupil teams have been in attendance at this time on the trial at this time as effectively as to Murdaugh members of the household.
Jason Ryan on the underside on the courthouse on behalf of the The Hampton County Guardian described vital police presence on the scene, reporting that legal guidelines enforcement had normal a fringe throughout the courthouse sq. and cleared the block.
Shortly after three p.m. the courtroom reconvened and proceedings resumed.
Jeanne Seckinger testifies to Alex Murdaugh’s alleged stealing
Jeanne Seckinger, CFO of the Murdaugh household legal guidelines agency PMPED (now Parker legal guidelines Group) took the stand Tuesday, painting Alex Murdaugh as a thief and manipulator.
Seckinger alleged Murdaugh used his excellent title and the chummy tradition of the legal guidelines agency to tug off a years-prolonged con, stealing tens of millions from buyers, companions and completely different shut associates.
Seckinger characterised Murdaugh as a sloppy thief, stealing the identical funds twice and leaving incriminating checks and financial institution statements on his desk on the office.
His success as a lawyer, she alleged, was not the outcomes of capacity however manipulation. “Alex was worthwhile, not on account of his work ethic, on account of his capacity to regulate people proper into a settlement,” Seckinger advised the courtroom, “He did it by the artwork of (expletive) , primarily.”
An important ruling from choose Newman
choose Clifton Newman dominated on Monday that proof pertaining to Alex Murdaugh’s completely different alleged crimes can be permitted inside the trial. The ruling is an enormous win for the prosecution, which filed paperwork indicating legal professionals plan to paint Murdaugh as a particular person out of selections, determined to distract from his monetary crimes.
“I discover that the jury is entitled to suppose about the apparent desperation of Mr. Murdaugh on account of his dire monetary state of affairs and the deal with of being uncovered. … probably ensuing inside the fee of the alleged crimes,” Newman mentioned.
Murdaugh is the matter of pretty simply a few state investigations and has been indicted on virtually one hundred completely different expenses collectively with fraud and drug trafficking. The admission of proof associated to these alleged crimes is predicted to lengthen what was already anticipated to be a three-week trial.
Alex Murdaugh homicide trial updates:choose guidelines monetary crimes admissible; caregiver testifies
Caretaker for Libby Murdaugh, Alex Mudaugh’s mom testifies
The prosecution recognized as Mushelle “Shelley” Smith to the stand as Monday. Smith is the caretaker for Alex Murdaugh’s aged mom, Libby Murdaugh.
Smith testified that Murdaugh acquired here round his mom the evening time of the murders at about 9 or 9:30 p.m. and stayed 15 to twenty minutes. Smith testified that days later, on the funeral of his father, Randolph Murdaugh III Alex made a level of telling her he was on the house that evening time for longer — 30 to forty minutes.
She additionally testified that Murdaugh provided monetary assist for her upcoming bridal ceremony and to make the most of his connections to assist collectively with her second job on the native school district .
Smith additionally mentioned every week after the murders she noticed Murdaugh at his mom’s house carrying what appeared to be a blue tarp.
In his cross-examination, protection workforce lawyer Jim Griffin sought to undermine Smith’s account by pointing to a conflicting report she gave police about whether or not Murdaugh had a tarp or a raincoat.
When have been the Murdaugh murders?
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh have been shot and killed the night of June 7, 2021, on the household’s property in Islandton, South Carolina.
It wasn’t till July 14, 2022, greater than a 12 months later, that authorities pointed to Alex Murdaugh as a end result of the killer, indicting him on two counts of homicide.
the place did the Murdaugh murders happen?
The trial goes on in Walterboro, South Carolina on the Colleton nation Courthouse. The Murdaugh property the place each Maggie and Paul have been killed, however, is in Islandton, South Carolina.
that will very effectively be the house the place Gloria Ann Satterfield, prolonged-time housekeeper for the Murdaugh household, died following a fall down the steps.
Alex Murdaugh was later investigated by the South Carolina legal guidelines Enforcement Division (SLED) in reference to Satterfield’s demise over allegations he stole insurance coverage settlement funds from her heirs. Murdaugh additionally confronted a civil go well with from Satterfield’s sons in reference to these allegations.
who’s Rogan Gibson?
Rogan Gibson, a buddy of Paul Murdaugh’s, was named pretty simply a few occasions in day six of the trial.
Gibson’s communications through textual content material and name with Paul have been launched as proof to assist set up a timeline of the murders.
SLED Senior particular Agent Jeff Croft shared mobile telephone snapshots of textual content material exchanges between Gibson and each victims, as effectively as to a name log displaying Gibson tried to name Paul pretty simply a few occasions with out reply.
Logs additionally confirmed that Gibson missed pretty simply a few calls from the defendant Alex Murdaugh.
what’s the significance of the 300 Blackout rifle?
all by week one in all many trial, prosecutors mentioned markings, mannequin and mannequin knowledge for the 300 Blackout rifle cartridges found on the crime scene matched completely different ammunition found all by the Murdaugh property.
The defendant Alex Murdaugh purchased a 300 Blackout trend rifle for his son Paul in 2017, which may not be found. Murdaugh’s lawyer Richard Harpootlian maintains it was stolen.
what’s Alex Murdaugh charged with?
Murdaugh is going by double-homicide costs, accused of killing his son Paul, 22, and spouse Maggie, fifty two.
Murdaugh is additionally the matter of completely different state investigations and has been indicted on roughly one hundred further expenses. these expenses embrace tax evasion, drug trafficking and fraud.
His cases have thrust the small metropolis of Walterboro and Colleton County, South Carolina, into the nationwide spotlight.
The prison saga of Alex Murdaugh, whose household had administration over a neighborhood prosecutor’s office in Hampton County for over eighty years, stretches again virtually a decade. Following the June 2021 shootings, legal guidelines enforcement started to evaluation two completely different deaths in connection with Murdaugh. He himself survived a gunshot all by a drive-by capturing prosecutors allege was an factor of a failed insurance coverage fraud scheme.
Take an in-depth have a look on the timeline: What we discover out about Alex Murdaugh’s crime saga.
who’s Alex Murdaugh?:Behind the one who wrecked a South Carolina authorized dynasty
How is the PMPED legal guidelines agency/Parker legal guidelines Group associated?
PMPED (now recognized as Parker legal guidelines group) is the household legal guidelines agency the place Alex Murdaugh was previously employed. The title stands for the initials of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker Eltzroth and Detrick.
Murdaugh resigned from the agency after being accused of stealing funds. choose Newman dominated on Monday that proof of Murdaugh’s alleged monetary crimes shall be admissible inside the case. On Thursday Jeannie Seckinger, the CFO of Parker legal guidelines Group, testified she had confronted Murdaugh about lacking authorized expenses the day of the homicide. The jury was not current for this testimony.
Filings from the prosecution level out they allege Murdaugh carried out the murders to distract PMPED from his monetary crimes. The state additionally plans to name Annette Griswald, Murdaugh’s former paralegal who first sounded the alarm bell on the alleged finacial crimes .
Murdaugh trial witness itemizing
greater than 250 people are on the potential witness itemizing for the protection and prosecution.
The itemizing contains brokers from the South Carolina legal guidelines Enforcement Division (SLED), forensic consultants, Murdaugh members of the household and medical professionals.
this is who has been recognized as up to now:
- Tinish Bryson-Smith: Hampton County 911 Dispatch
- Angela Stallings: Colleton County Dispatch/Colleton County Sheriff’s office
- Barry McRoy: Colleton County hearth Rescue
- Jason Chapman: Colleton County Sheriff’s office Captain
- Laura Rutland: Colleton County Sheriff’s office Detective
- Sgt. Daniel Greene: Colleton County Sheriff’s office
- Corp. Chad McDowell: Colleton County Sheriff’s office
- Dalila Cirencione: SLED agent
- Melinda Worley: SLED forensic agent
- Jeff Croft: SLED Senior particular Agent
- Michael Anthony Knecht: Verizon information custodian
- Paul McManigle: mobile telephone forensic professional with U.S. Secret Service
- Jonathan VanHouten: mobile telephone forensic professional with U.S. Secret Service
- Lt. Britt Dove: SLED mobile telephone forensic professional
- Rogan Gibson: Paul Murdaugh’s buddy
- Will Loving: Paul Murdaugh’s buddy
- Paul Greer: SLED Firearms Examiner
- John Bedingfield: S.C. division of pure assets officer and personalized gunmaker
- Mushelle “Shelley” Smith: caregiver for Alex Murdaugh’s mom
- Jeannie Seckinger: CFO of Parker legal guidelines Group (previously typically recognized as PMPED)
- Megan Fletcher: SLED hint proof Analyst and forensics professional
- Ronnie Crosby: managing associate at Parker legal guidelines Group (previously typically recognized as PMPED)
- Michael “Tony” Satterfield: Gloria Satterfield’s son
- Chris Wilson: Alex Murdaugh’s former buddy, legal guidelines associate
- Dwight Falkofske: FBI electronics engineer and automotive forensic specialist
- Brian Hudak: SLED forensics professional
- Mark Tinsley: lawyer representing the property of Mallory seashore
- Mathew Wilde: FBI Supervisory particular Agent, professional on historic name knowledge evaluation and mobile location evaluation
- Nathan Tuten: Paul Murdaugh’s childhood buddy
- Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson: Murdaugh household worker
- Sarah Zapata: SLED Forensic DNA analyst
- Ryan Kelly: SLED Sr. particular Agent
- Rachel Nguyen: DNA forensic analyst at SLED
Alex Murdaugh homicide trial:First officers on scene of murders supply revealing testimony.
who’re Alex Murdaugh’s attorneys? Richard “Dick” Harpootlian leads protection workforce
choose Clifton Newman is presiding over the trial and Murdaugh’s protection workforce is headed by attorneys Richard Harpootlian and Jim Griffin.
Harpootlian is a trial lawyer with a long time of expertise, having labored as a prosecutor, protection lawyer and civil litigator. he is no stranger to extreme-profile cases. Notably, in 1983, Harpootlian sealed a demise-row conviction for the prosecution of Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins — a infamous serial killer.
Griffin is each a trial lawyer and well being care lawyer and has intensive expertise in representing buyers charged with federal crimes, collectively with diverse classifications of fraud, public corruption, and prison tax expenses.
Dig deeper:study extra about Alex Murdaugh’s media-savvy protection workforce
Creighton Waters is main the prosecution workforce
Creighton Waters is the chief lawyer for the State Grand Jury division of the South Carolina lawyer regular’s office and is the lead prosecutor in all of the prison cases involving Murdaugh.
Waters, fifty two, has labored for the lawyer regular’s office for greater than 24 years. He has acquired State Grand Jury indictments on corrupt legal guidelines enforcement officers, as effectively as to highschool district and county officers. His work has earned indictments on greater than one hundred suspects following investigations into drug operations inside the state jail system.
Since 2019, Waters’ predominant focus has been on unraveling Murdaugh’s alleged web of monetary and drug-associated crimes, and leveling indictment after indictment in the direction of the disbarred lawyer and a quantity of completely different of his alleged accomplices.
Welcome to Walterboro, South Carolina:meals vans serve inflow of vacationers amid Murdaugh murders trial
Paul Murdaugh boat crash
In July 2021 courtroom paperwork have been filed alleging a civil conspiracy that will have related legal guidelines enforcement with members of the Murdaugh household after a 2019 Beaufort County boat crash killed Mallory seashore, 19.
Paul Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh’s late son, was allegedly driving the boat when he crashed proper into a bridge, ensuing in seashore’s demise and accidents to the two completely different passengers on board. He was awaiting trial after pleading not responsible to three felony counts of crusing beneath the affect. The boat was owned by Alex Murdaugh.
In courtroom proceedings Sgt. Daniel Greene of the Colleton County Sheriff’s office testified that Murdaugh, moments after officers arrived on the scene the evening time of Maggie and Paul’s demise, advised them that the shootings have been possible associated to the 2019 boat crash and threats his son had been receiving.
who’s Buster Murdaugh?
Alex and Maggie Murdaugh had two youngsters: Paul, who’s the matter of the homicide trial and one completely different surviving son Richard “Buster” Murdaugh.
Buster is on the witness itemizing for the trial. He attended legal guidelines school at college of South Carolina earlier than being kicked out over accusations of plagiarism, primarily based on the Wall road Journal.
Buster and Maggie Murdaugh have been each named inside the wrongful demise lawsuit launched by Mallory seashore’s household following the 2019 boat crash, however their names have been in the end dropped inside the settlement. Buster was charged initially as a end result of his ID was utilized by youthful brother Paul to buy the alcohol in his system on the time of the crash.
Alex Murdaugh trial jury selection
Jury selection started Monday, Jan. 23 in a Walterboro, South Carolina, courtroom for the extremely anticipated trial.
Attorneys narrowed down an inventory of 900 residents to a attainable jury pool of roughly one hundred fifty in open courtroom and made further cuts in choose’s chambers. On Wednesday, Jan. 25, they settled on a ultimate jury of 4 white males, six white women and two Black women. The alternates embrace two white males, one white lady, one Black man and two Black women.
The South Carolina lawyer regular’s office is looking for life in jail for Murdaugh if he is convicted.
A deep dive:study extra about jury selection inside the Alex Murdaugh trial.
Alex Murdaugh homicide trial begins:What may happen on this historic case?
Alex Murdaugh trial opening statements
Opening statements acquired by state prosecutors and protection attorneys on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters asserted proof would current a “fantastic storm” was brewing that led Murdaugh, fifty 4, to kill his spouse and son in June 2021. Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh’s protection lawyer, reminded the jury his shopper is innocent till confirmed responsible and dismissed the state’s proof and mere “theories.”
Waters detailed a exact timeline of the crime in his opening assertion, drawing on ballistic and forensic proof, mobile telephone knowledge and video footage of the crime scene. He alleged Murdaugh used a household gun, which is now lacking, to commit the murders, then drove to his mom’s house earlier than returning house later and phoning 911.
“you are going to see what he did to Maggie and Paul, and it will possible be ugly,” Waters mentioned.
Murdaugh trial kicks off:Opening statements given in former lawyer Alex Murdaugh’s double homicide trial
Contributing: Michael M. DeWitt Jr. and N’dea Yancy-Bragg
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