Alex Murdaugh trial – live: Defence to rest case today as disgraced attorney hit with new misdemeanour charge
Alex Murdaugh’s defence team is expected to rest its case today after calling four final witnesses to the stand to try to convince jurors that he is innocent of the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.
The high-profile murder trial will resume at 9.30am ET in Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, with the defence planning to wrap up by early afternoon.
The prosecution will then present its rebuttal before closing arguments take place.
By the end of the week, the disgraced attorney and accused killer may know his fate.
Over two dramatic days in court last week, Mr Murdaugh took the stand and confessed he had lied for the past 20 months about his alibi for the night of the murders.
In a combative cross-examination, prosecutor Creighton Waters accused Mr Murdaugh of continuing his web of lies on the stand as he played bodycam footage which completely undermined the reasons the defendant gave for lying.
This comes as SLED hit Mr Murdaugh with a new misdemeanour charge on Friday. Officials have given no details but FITS News reported that the charge is in connection to a family member passing him contraband in court.
Alex Murdaugh murder trial
Murdaugh is accused of lying on the stand – about his pivotal lie on night of murders
Murdaugh snaps in tense cross-examination
Murdaugh admits he lied about being at kennels and his alibi on night of murders
Alex Murdaugh defence witness claims Maggie was killed by 5’2” shooter
Alex Murdaugh faces new charge as trial for his wife and son’s murders continues
Moment Murdaugh accused of lying on the stand – about his own big lie
11:30 , Rachel Sharp
A bombshell moment unfolded at Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial when he was accused of lying on the stand – about why he had lied over his alibi on the night of the murders.
At the end of an intense and lengthy cross-examination on Friday, the disgraced legal scion was confronted over what prosecutor Creighton Waters claimed was his latest lies to the court.
“All those reasons you just gave this jury about the most important part of your testimony was a lie, too, wasn’t it?” the prosecutor said.
Rachel Sharp reports on how prosecutors wrapped up their cross-examination.
Moment Alex Murdaugh is accused of lying on the stand
Murdaugh continues to claim murder linked to 2019 boat wreck
09:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh has claimed that he still believes his wife and son were murdered by unknown assailants because of the 2019 fatal boat wreck.
The embattled legal scion on Friday told jurors his theory about the killer’s motive for shooting dead Maggie and Paul as he continued to protest his innocence of any involvement in the 7 June 2021 slayings.
“I believe that boat wreck is the reason why PawPaw and Maggie were killed,” he said.
Rachel Sharp has the story.
Alex Murdaugh continues to claim wife and son were murdered over 2019 boat wreck
Murdaugh confronted about changing story after kennel video
07:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh was confronted in court about his sudden and dramatic change in story about the night of his wife and son’s murders – coming only after jurors were shown a bombshell video placing him at the scene and more than half a dozen witnesses identified his voice in the footage.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Alex Murdaugh confronted about changing story
Trial viewers incorrectly claim to spot author John Grisham in the courtroom
05:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Eagle-eyed viewers following the explosive Alex Murdaugh murder trial sparked frenzied — but incorrect — speculation that acclaimed author John Grisham was in the courtroom.
No, he’s not researching his latest novel.
Alex Murdaugh trial viewers claim to spot author John Grisham in the courtroom
Watch: Murdaugh questioned about being at crime scene with victims
03:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh questioned about being at crime scene with victims
Key revelations from the Alex Murdaugh murder trial... so far
01:45 , Oliver O'Connell
It’s a dramatic saga that now includes murder, a botched hitman plot, multi-million-dollar fraud schemes and a series of unexplained deaths.
The now-disbarred attorney denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty.
Mr Murdaugh’s trial got underway at Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro on 23 January.
The prosecution has now wrapped up its case with the defence beginning its own case on 17 February – where Mr Murdaugh is expected to take the stand.
Here are the key revelations from the trial so far:
Key moments from Alex Murdaugh murder trial
Murdaugh can’t remember last conversation with wife and son
Sunday 26 February 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh has claimed he can’t remember the last conversation he ever had with his wife Maggie and son Paul – just minutes before they were gunned down by the kennels on the family’s hunting estate.
Read on:
Alex Murdaugh can’t remember last conversation with wife and son
Watch: Murdaugh confronted about changing his story about night of murders
Sunday 26 February 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh confronted about changing his story about night of murders
Faces in the courtroom: Who’s who at the Alex Murdaugh trial
Sunday 26 February 2023 19:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Rachel Sharp introduces some of the key players in the case:
Who are the attorneys and judge in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial?
Who is the legal dynasty heir on trial for the murders of his wife and son
Sunday 26 February 2023 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell
The hotly-anticipated trial of Alex Murdaugh is currently under way in South Carolina where he is facing life in prison for the double murder of his wife and son.
The 54-year-old heir to a prominent legal dynasty is accused of gunning down wife Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22, on the grounds of the sprawling family estate in Islandton back on 7 June 2021.
He was arrested in July 2022 and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Read on:
Timeline of murders, financial fraud, unexplained deaths and arrest
Sunday 26 February 2023 15:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Disgraced legal dynasty heir Alex Murdaugh is currently on trial in a South Carolina courthouse for the murders of his wife and son.
Mr Murdaugh, 54, is accused of shooting Paul, 22, twice with a shotgun and Maggie, 52, five times with a rifle on the family’s sprawling hunting lodge in Islandton on 7 June 2021.
He was arrested more than a year later in July 2022 and charged with their murders.
In the 20 months since the brutal double murders propelled the Murdaughs onto national headlines, a series of other scandals, allegations and alleged crimes have also come to light.
Here’s a timeline of the key moments in the case:
Alex Murdaugh: A timeline of murders, financial fraud, crime scene and arrest
Alex Murdaugh faces new charge as trial for his wife and son’s murders continues
Sunday 26 February 2023 14:22 , Graig Graziosi
Alex Murdaugh, the legal scion on trial for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul, is facing new misdemeanor charges.
According to jail records reviewed by WCBD News 2, authorities received an arrest warrant for a charge for the disgraced attorney on 24 February.
Details of the charges have not been revealed so far.
Mr Murdaugh, 54, is accused of gunning down his wife Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22, on the grounds of the family estate in Islandton back on 7 June 2021.
He was arrested in July 2022 and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Read more:
Alex Murdaugh faces new misdemeanor charge as double murder trial continues
Murdaugh snaps in tense cross-examination about faking police power, stolen funds and lavish lifestyle
Sunday 26 February 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh snapped during a tense cross-examination about his family’s prominence in the low country, his alleged abuse of power, and the string of legal clients who he stole millions of dollars from.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Alex Murdaugh snaps in tense cross-examination about family power, stolen funds
Paul Murdaugh told friends to ‘be present’ after boat crash
Sunday 26 February 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh has told his murder trial about his son Paul’s heartwarming words to friends in the wake of a boat crash that killed his 19-year-old friend - for which he was criminally charged.
Testifying in his own defence against charges for killing Paul and his wife Maggie at Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina on Thursday, Mr Murdaugh recounted how a friend of his son shared in his eulogy that Paul had encouraged friends to be appreciative in life.
Andrea Blanco has the story.
Alex Murdaugh says Paul told friends to ‘be present’ after boat crash killed friend
Murdaugh confesses to stealing from law firm
Sunday 26 February 2023 07:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh has confessed to stealing money from his law firm and to orchestrating a bizarre botched hitman plot – but continues to deny killing his wife Maggie and son Paul in cold blood on the family’s sprawling estate.
The disgraced attorney – who is facing almost 100 charges for a multi-million-dollar financial fraud scheme – took the witness stand in his own double murder trial in the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, on Thursday.
During dramatic testimony, Mr Murdaugh admitted that he had stolen funds from clients at his law firm PMPED.
“I did,” he said.
Read on:
Alex Murdaugh confesses to stealing from law firm in trial testimony
Watch: Tearful Alex Murdaugh declares love for wife and son
Sunday 26 February 2023 04:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Tearful Alex Murdaugh declares love for wife and son during cross-examination
Murdaugh denies searching for local restaurant after calling 911
Sunday 26 February 2023 02:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh insisted he did not intentionally search for a local restaurant online in the minutes after he reported the murders of his wife and son to 911 dispatchers.
Andrea Blanco explains what may have happened.
Alex Murdaugh denies searching for restaurant minutes after calling 911 about murders
Murdaugh admits he lied about being at kennels
Sunday 26 February 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell
The disgraced attorney insisted that he is innocent of the horrific slayings but dramatically confessed that he had lied about not going to the dog kennels with Maggie and Paul on the night of 7 June 2021.
“I did lie to them,” he said.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Alex Murdaugh admits he lied about alibi on night of murders in bombshell testimony
Watch: Murdaugh sobs while giving testimony
Saturday 25 February 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh sobs while giving testimony during double murder trial
Murdaugh on late son: ‘I couldn’t be any closer to Paw Paw’
Saturday 25 February 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Disgraced legal scion Alex Murdaugh gave a detailed account of how he spent his final day with his son Paul as he testified in his own defence at his double murder trial.
Taking the stand at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, Mr Murdaugh recounted spending the day of 7 June 2021 planting fields with Paul before the 22-year-old and his wife Maggie were murdered at the family’s estate in Islanton, South Carolina.
Andrea Blanco has the story.
Alex Murdaugh describes how he spent final day with son Paul before murders
How Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial became a circus
Saturday 25 February 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Murder. A botched hitman plot. Mystery deaths. Millions of dollars of stolen money. Opioid addiction.
The case involving Alex Murdaugh appears to have it all when it comes to drama and plot twists.
It’s then little surprise that his murder trial now going on in Walterboro, South Carolina, has captivated the public all across America.
But it should then also come as little surprise to see the high-profile case spilling out into a spectacle far beyond the testimony jurors are hearing in the courtroom.
In only one week, the trial was rocked by a bomb threat, apparently obscene gestures and bad behaviour from the Murdaugh family members, a controversial GoFundMe account and a Covid-19 outbreak among jurors.
How Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial became a circus
Saturday 25 February 2023 16:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Documentary brings viewers to the hearts of a traumatised community
Saturday 25 February 2023 14:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Clémence Michallon speaks to directors Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason.
Her death became a footnote in the Murdaugh murder case. Now, her story is being told
Defence witness in ‘no doubt’ Murdaugh’s voice is in kennel video
Saturday 25 February 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh’s high-profile murder trial took another dramatic turn on Wednesday when one of his own defence witnesses insisted he has “no doubt” that the disgraced attorney was at the scene of the killings.
Mark Ball, Mr Murdaugh’s former law firm partner at PMPED and friend of 34 years, delivered bombshell testimony in Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, where he identified Mr Murdaugh’s voice in the video taken at the dog kennels minutes before the murders.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Moment Alex Murdaugh’s defence witness identifies him in kennel video
Watch: Witness ‘infuriated’ by state of ‘sloppy’ crime scene
Saturday 25 February 2023 10:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Murdaugh murder trial witness ‘infuriated’ by state of ‘sloppy’ crime scene
Murdaugh witness suggests Maggie was killed by 5’2” shooter – not her 6’4” husband
Saturday 25 February 2023 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell
A defence witness in Alex Murdaugh’s high-profile double-murder trial has suggested that Maggie was gunned down by a 5’2” shooter – and not her 6’4” husband.
Mike Sutton, a forensic engineer who specialises in external ballistics, took the witness stand on Tuesday as the defence fights back against the trove of circumstantial evidence laid out by the prosecution over the past four weeks.
Alex Murdaugh defence witness suggests Maggie was killed by 5’2” shooter
Murdaugh’s detailed sketch of shooter who never existed
Saturday 25 February 2023 05:45 , Oliver O'Connell
The jury in Alex Murdaugh’s trial has finally been presented with evidence of his botched hitman plot months after the murders of his wife and son - including a sketch of the nonexistent man he claimed shot him.
Alex Murdaugh’s detailed sketch of fake shooter exposed at trial
Saturday 25 February 2023 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Murdaugh confronted about changing story after kennel video undermines alibi
Saturday 25 February 2023 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh was confronted in court about his sudden and dramatic change in story about the night of his wife and son’s murders – coming only after jurors were shown a bombshell video placing him at the scene and more than half a dozen witnesses identified his voice in the footage.
Rachel Sharp has the story.
Alex Murdaugh confronted about changing story
Murdaugh continues to claim wife and son were murdered because of 2019 boat wreck
Saturday 25 February 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Alex Murdaugh has claimed that he still believes his wife and son were murdered by unknown assailants because of the 2019 fatal boat wreck.
The embattled legal scion told jurors on Friday his theory about the killer’s motive for shooting dead Maggie and Paul as he continued to protest his innocence of any involvement in the 7 June 2021 slayings.
“I believe that boat wreck is the reason why PawPaw and Maggie were killed,” he said.
Rachel Sharp reports.
Alex Murdaugh continues to claim wife and son were murdered over 2019 boat wreck
Key revelations from the Alex Murdaugh murder trial
Friday 24 February 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell
It’s a dramatic saga that now includes murder, a botched hitman plot, multi-million-dollar fraud schemes and a series of unexplained deaths.
The now-disbarred attorney denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty.
Mr Murdaugh’s trial got underway at Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro on 23 January.
The prosecution has now wrapped up its case with the defence beginning its own case on 17 February – where Mr Murdaugh is expected to take the stand.
Here are the key revelations from the trial so far:
Key moments from Alex Murdaugh murder trial
Moment Alex Murdaugh is accused of lying on the stand – about his big lie
Friday 24 February 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell
A bombshell moment unfolded at Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial when he was accused of lying on the stand – about why he had lied over his alibi on the night of the murders.
Rachel Sharp has the latest.
Moment Alex Murdaugh is accused of lying on the stand
Court adjourns for the weekend
Friday 24 February 2023 21:49 , Oliver O'Connell
Judge Newman brings the week to a close and excuses the jury.
Harpootlian says they will have four witnesses of approximately one hour each on Monday.
Waters says he will have a few rebuttal witnesses.
It is unclear when we will hear closing arguments, but Harpootlian suggests Wednesday as a target.
Harpootlian asks if he and Griffin can split their defence closing argument. Waters objects. Judge Newman says he will look at it but is not inclined to do it.
The trial will resume at 9.30am on Monday morning.
Friday 24 February 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell
After Waters again says that Murdaugh has constructed a new story for the night based around the evidence he has heard in court that disproved his original alibi, recross concludes.
Murdaugh is allowed to step down.
Friday 24 February 2023 21:44 , Oliver O'Connell
There is a brief recross from Waters.
He states that “as a prosecutor and a lawyer, you had been manufacturing an alibi to cover your tracks” and that by telling SLED investigators to pull the data from the phones and car he could help back that up.
Murdaugh says that is “absolutely wrong”.
Friday 24 February 2023 21:42 , Oliver O'Connell
Griffin rounds out redirect examination by asking Murdaugh if he murdered Maggie and Paul.
He replies he would not and adds: “If I was under the pressure that they’re talking about here, I can promise you I would hurt myself before I would hurt one of them, without a doubt.”
Friday 24 February 2023 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell
Regarding the roadside shooter, Murdaugh is asked why he lied and made up the fictitious shooter (going as far as to give a composite sketch description).
“My main concern at that point was that I did not want Buster knowing that I had tried to do that [die by suicide]. That was my motivation in telling that story.”
He said he intended to be gone and had not intended to survive.
Friday 24 February 2023 21:39 , Oliver O'Connell
Murdaugh says he was not trying to mislead Deputy Greene when he arrived at the scene on the night of the murders and said he had not seen Maggie and Paul for more than 90 minutes.
Griffin: Did you believe the information of whether you were there or not there (at the kennels) would advance their (SLED’s) investigation in any way?
AM: No. “Because they were fine and doing good when I left there.”— Avery G. Wilks (@AveryGWilks) February 24, 2023
Friday 24 February 2023 21:37 , Oliver O'Connell
Griffin asks Murdaugh whether he had Maggie’s phone between 9.02 and 9.06pm on 7 June 2021 while his phone recorded a lot of steps.
He says he did not have her phone with him at any time that night.
Griffin also asks why he told SLED a lot of inaccurate times about the night of the murders and whether he was lying.
Murdaugh says he was not lying and he was trying to estimate the times. He adds that he gave them instructions on how they could verify those times - i.e. through the phone and car data.
Friday 24 February 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Griffin asks about where the stolen money went. Murdaugh reiterates it was for pills.
He is shown text messages from Paul from 30 May 2021 which include a picture of his son’s feet which were swelling due to high blood pressure. Maggie was very worried about him and wanted him to see a doctor. It was a topic of conversation at dinner on the night of 7 June.
Friday 24 February 2023 21:17 , Oliver O'Connell
Griffin begins by establishing that Murdaugh is also facing pending charges relating to the financial crimes that have become such a major part of his murder trial.
We’ve heard the defense tell and remind the jury that Murdaugh is basically going to jail forever on the financial charges no matter what this jury does on the murder counts.
Telegraphing that even if they vote to acquit, they aren’t letting a possible murderer onto the street.— Avery G. Wilks (@AveryGWilks) February 24, 2023
Friday 24 February 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell
After a brief mid-afternoon break, court resumes.
Following that dramatic close to the cross-examination, defence attorney Jim Griffin begins redirect examination of Murdaugh.
Watch: Moment Murdaugh was confronted with lie about false alibi
Friday 24 February 2023 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell
Waters ends his cross-examination of #AlexMurdaugh by playing the body cam footage on the scene and AM lying to Sgt. Green. All the reasons AM has given for why he lied about being at the kennels hadn't happened yet , IE: distrust of SLED, law partners hadn't arrived, etc... pic.twitter.com/PfGhytAP7o
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) February 24, 2023
Friday 24 February 2023 21:03 , Oliver O'Connell
After Murdaugh spent today giving reasons as to why he lied about his whereabouts on the night of the murder, indicating that it all tied to the moment in the car when he was first interviewed in the aftermath.
That was when he first said he had been asleep and had not been down to the kennels, not knowing of the existence of the kennel video shot by Paul.
Waters then plays a bodycam video from Colleton Country Sheriff’s Office deputy Greeene who was the first person on the scene that night.
In the video, Murdaugh tells the deputy that he had not seen Maggie and Paul for over 90 minutes, indicating he had not been down to the kennels that night - his false alibi.
Waters reminds him that he lied about his alibi because he was suspicious of SLED, his law partners had arrived and told him to have a lawyer before he spoke to the police, and because he was paranoid because he was asked about his relationships with his wife and son, and was tested for gunshot residue.
None of which had happened when he spoke to Deputy Greene that night.
Waters ends his cross-examination.
