Alex Murdaugh trial live: Maggie believed her husband had an affair years before the murders, says sister Marian Proctor

The prosecution wants to play a taped statement by Murdaugh admitting that Cousin Eddie shot him in the head on the side of the road and wanted to die so Buster could get life insurance. The insurance company wouldn’t pay if it was a suicide.

The defense tells Judge Newman that the defendant admitted to the circumstances of the roadside shooting – Cousin Eddie was asked to shoot him in the head so that Buster could collect $10 million in insurance money.

Prosecutors respond by saying Murdaugh lied that day, which proves intent.

Harpootlian responds, “He didn’t want to do it to gain sympathy. He did it because he wanted to be dead.

He adds that Cousin Eddie gave “no less” than six versions of the day’s events.

“I look forward to questioning Eddie Smith.”

The prosecution says they have no more witnesses to call today as someone was late due to circumstances beyond their control.

The jury is sent home early.

After a short back-and-forth, Judge Newman orders the jury to return at 10:30 am tomorrow. During overtime tomorrow morning, he will hear arguments about the admissibility of the roadside shooting evidence in September 2021.

The testimony of Mrs. Proctor concludes with her saying that the story initially told by Alex after the roadside shooting turned out not to be true and it changed her perception of what had happened.

Changing tactics, Mr. Creighton asks if Maggie was worried before the murders about Alex’s opioid use.

She says she’s not sure how long this went on, but that it was awhile.

Mrs. Proctor is then asked if Maggie had a nickname for Paul.

She replies yes and that it was the “Little Detective”. The nickname came about because he always kept an eye out to see if his father was behaving and not abusing opioids.

He would try to find any painkillers Alex had at home to make sure his dad couldn’t take them.

Mrs. Proctor testified about Alex being shot on the side of the road in September 2021.

Initially, she was worried that he might be dead and felt that the family was being targeted and was worried about Buster.

She called Buster, who said Alex had been airlifted to the hospital.

Mrs. Proctor called Jim Griffin and learned that he had been fired from his job.

Judge Newman rules that Ms. Proctor cannot testify about allegations that Alex Murdaugh had an affair 15 years earlier as it is too confusing.

She can testify about how she found out that Alex was fired because he was stealing and that he had an opioid problem.

The defense team says it may have hearsay objections to his testimony.

The jury is brought back.

To further confuse matters, it appears that Ms. Proctor was informed that Alex had been fired from the law firm for theft by defense attorney Jim Griffin.

He immediately objects that his own conversation with the witness is hearsay, causing an eruption of laughter in the courtroom.

Returning to marital issues, Alex had an alleged affair in 2007 that the defense team says did not happen.

Mrs. Proctor says that Maggie and Alex managed to work out their issues from then on, but her sister still brought it up because she still bothered her.

Judge Newman orders a 15-minute recess.