by Bodycam shows Alex Murdaugh as the first officers arrive at the scene of the murders of his wife and child
It was a dramatic day at the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial in South Carolina, with the judge ruling that an important part of the prosecution’s case is not admissible in evidence before reversing the decision.
Judge Clifton Newman ruled that jurors cannot hear testimony about the bizarre roadside shooting in September 2021 – which later turned out to be a failed plot by the killer.
Three months after the June 2021 murders of wife Maggie and son Paul Murdaugh, the disgraced attorney was ambushed in what he claimed was a drive-by shooting. He later confessed to orchestrating the plot with alleged co-conspirator Curtis “Cousin Eddie” Smith so that his surviving son, Buster, would inherit a windfall $10 million life insurance policy.
Judge Newman ruled that the defense team opened the door for testimony about the plot to be admitted in its own questioning of lead investigator of the murders, David Owen.
The courtroom was dominated by a video of Murdaugh being interviewed by Owen, in which the defendant contradicts the witness evidence heard so far at the trial. His responses did much to unite the prosecution’s case against him, although the defense aggressively contested police procedure related to the investigation.
The trial resumes on Thursday at 9:30 am.
A timeline of murders, financial fraud, unexplained deaths and arrests
Murdaugh, 54, is accused of shooting Paul, 22, twice with a shotgun and Maggie, 52, five times with a rifle at the family’s sprawling hunting lodge in Islandton on June 7, 2021.
In the 19 months since the brutal double murders brought the Murdaughs into national headlines, a host of other scandals, allegations and alleged crimes have also surfaced.
Here’s a timeline of key moments from the case:
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 16, 2023 7:15 am
Key revelations from the Alex Murdaugh murder trial… so far
It’s a dramatic saga that now includes murder, a failed assassin’s plot, multi-million dollar fraud schemes and a series of unexplained deaths.
The now exonerated attorney denies the charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Murdaugh’s trial began at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro on January 23.
The prosecution is expected to conclude its case this week (week of Feb. 13) before the defense starts its own case, in which Murdaugh is expected to testify.
Here are the key revelations from the trial so far:
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 16, 2023 05:15
ICYMI: Maggie Murdaugh kicked Alex out of her home after suspecting he had an affair
Alex Murdaugh’s alleged extramarital affair emerged on the seventeenth day of the trial for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.
Andre Blanco has the details.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 16, 2023 03:15
Watch: Video of Murdaugh’s interrogation played in court
Murdaugh Trial: Video of Murdaugh’s Interrogation Played in Court
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 16, 2023 2:15 am
Bizarre plot of Murdaugh’s botched killer could be brought up in murder trial, judge rules
Testimony about Alex Murdaugh’s bizarre botched hitman plot will be admitted as evidence in his double murder trial, the judge ruled in a reversal of his own ruling hours earlier.
The move paves the way for the man accused of being Murdaugh’s co-conspirator and drug dealer to possibly take a stand.
Rachel Sharp has the details.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 16, 2023 1:15 am
Murdaugh’s new police interview exposes wild inconsistencies between his alibi and witness accounts
Dramatic footage revealed Alex Murdaugh being confronted by law enforcement over wild inconsistencies in his alibi in a police interview two months after the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.
Footage of the August 11, 2021 interview with Murdaugh was shown in court on Wednesday as the prosecution nears the end of its case in the disgraced legal descendant’s double murder trial in Colleton County, South Carolina.
In the interview, which has never been seen before, discrepancies between Mr. Murdaugh of the events on the night of June 7, 2021 and the trove of evidence and witness testimony unearthed in his murder trial have been revealed.
Rachel Sharp has the story.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 16, 2023 00:15
Watch: Murdaugh asked if he killed his wife and child
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 15, 2023 11:45 pm
Murdaugh’s trial showed new photos of the crime scene as the dog’s caretaker describes the strange state of the kennels.
A man who looked after the dogs on Alex Murdaugh’s estate testified about strange details in the crime scene photos in the disgraced legal heir’s murder trial.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 15, 2023 11:15 pm
Watch: Judge Rules ‘Road Incident’ Testimony Allowed
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 15, 2023 10:41 pm
The jury is dismissed for the day.
Judge Newman reverses his earlier decision and says the defense has opened the door to all testimony relating to the roadside shooting and Cousin Eddie.
The court is now in recess until 9:30 am on Thursday.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 15, 2023 10:15 pm
