Alex Murdaugh Faces Trial for Double Murder in Colleton County Courthouse
On Friday, February 10, 2023, Alex Murdaugh appeared in court at the Colleton County Courthouse for his trial on charges of murder.[0] The trial is in relation to the deaths of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and his 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh, on June 7, 2021, at the family’s hunting estate known as Moselle.[1] The jury heard testimony from SLED forensic serologist Rachel Nguyen, who testified that unidentified male DNA had been found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails.[2]
The trial has been ongoing for three weeks, with the prosecution presenting evidence that Murdaugh may have stolen millions from his law firm and clients, fronted a narcotics ring, and hired a hitman to stage his own murder. On Monday, Judge Clifton Newman revealed that two jurors had been dismissed after testing positive for COVID-19, prompting the court to bring in three alternates, raising the possibility of delay or a mistrial.[3]
Jurors have heard from Dr. Ellen Riemer, an MUSC pathologist, who conducted the autopsies of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh.[4] Riemer testified that Maggie Murdaugh sustained five gunshot wounds from a minimum of four shots and likely was on her hands and knees or at least doubled over before she received the fatal gunshot wound.[5] In addition, Riemer testified that Paul Murdaugh had two shotgun wounds and that the only thing found in his system at the time of his death was caffeine.[5]
The prosecution also presented video evidence that called Murdaugh’s alibi into question, as well as bodycam footage and crime scene photos.[6] They argued that Murdaugh thought he was about to get caught stealing and killed his wife and son to buy time to cover up the money trail.[7]
Additionally, a blue rain jacket that prosecutors have tried to link to Murdaugh had no DNA on its interior, cuffs or hood that could be used to identify its owner.[8] Jurors had previously learned that the coat, discovered in an upstairs closet at Murdaugh's parents' residence, was covered in gunshot residue.[8]
The jury heard testimony from Rachel Nguyen, who said that a swab taken from the steering wheel of Murdaugh’s SUV tested positive for blood.[3] Fingernail clippings from both Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were also entered into evidence.[9]
0. “Murdaugh Timeline of Evidence: This is what happened the night Paul and Maggie were murdered” WJCL News Savannah, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.wjcl.com/article/murdaugh-murders-timeline-evidence/42846491
1. “Death of Murdaugh boat crash victim Mallory Beach in spotlight at double murder trial” Fox News, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/us/death-murdraugh-boat-crash-victim-mallory-beach-spotlight-double-murder-trial
2. “Alex Murdaugh double murder trial gets into forensic DNA evidence on Day 14” Law & Crime, 13 Feb. 2023, https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-alex-murdaugh-double-murder-trial-day-14
3. “Forensic experts testify on day 16 of Murdaugh murder trial” WCBD News 2, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.counton2.com/the-murdaugh-investigation/week-four-of-alex-murdaugh-murder-trial-begins/
4. “COVID-19 threatens to delay Murdaugh trial as week 4 begins” WYFF4 Greenville, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.wyff4.com/article/south-carolina-murdaugh-trial-week-4-day-16/42864463
5. “Jurors hear forensics, autopsy testimony in Murdaugh murder trial” Live 5 News WCSC, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.live5news.com/2023/02/13/jurors-hear-forensics-autopsy-testimony-murdaugh-murder-trial/
6. “Alex Murdaugh Murder Trial Updates from FITSNews Reporter” Katie Couric Media, 8 Feb. 2023, https://katiecouric.com/news/national-news/alex-murdaugh-murder-trial-fitsnews
7. “LIVE: Day 16: Prosecution expected to rest case in Murdaugh trial this week” WBTV, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.wbtv.com/2023/02/13/day-16-prosecution-expected-rest-case-murdaugh-trial-this-week/
8. “COVID-19 poses existential threat to Alex Murdaugh murder trial” Charleston Post Courier, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.postandcourier.com/murdaugh-updates/covid-19-poses-existential-threat-to-alex-murdaugh-murder-trial/article_c6a9646c-abab-11ed-8bcd-bf9b183a9141.html
9. “LIVE FEED – ‘Murdaugh Murders' Trial: Day Sixteen” FITSNews, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.fitsnews.com/2023/02/13/live-feed-murdaugh-murders-trial-day-sixteen/
