Alex Murdaugh Trial Continues at Colleton County Courthouse
The trial of Alex Murdaugh, a former Lowcountry attorney charged with the double homicide of his wife and son, continued this week at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, and Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, jurors heard testimony regarding the events of June 7, 2021 and Murdaugh’s involvement.
Murdaugh confessed to meeting with Curtis “Eddie” Smith, his drug dealer of 18-20 years, and asking him to shoot him on a roadside in Walterboro on Sept. 4, 2021. In a phone interview with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Agent Ryan Kelly from Sept. 13, 2021, Murdaugh admitted to lying about the circumstances surrounding the shooting, telling investigators his SUV had a flat on the side of the road and an unknown man stopped and shot him in the head.[0]
During cross examination of SLED Senior Special Agent David Owen, the lead case agent working the June 7, 2021 homicides, Jim Griffin, one of Murdaugh’s attorneys, asked Owen if he was aware that Murdaugh had been paying up to $50,000 a week to Smith to fetch drugs and supply his addiction.[1]
Judge Clifton Newman heard from defense attorney Jim Griffin as he argued that the door to allow the evidence had not been opened.[2] On Wednesday morning, Newman declared the evidence to be “a bridge too far” only to change his opinion after Griffin interrogated Agent David Owen and brought up Curtis “Eddie” Smith.[2]
Prior to indicting Murdaugh for the June 2021 killings, Owen testified that he did not intend to deceive the grand jury when he stated that Murdaugh's T-shirt was splattered with high-impact blood.[3] Spatter stains suggested Murdaugh was nearby when Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were killed.[3] He also told how multiple bullets ripped through Maggie before she was struck by a fatal shot.[4]
In the video of his interview with Owen, Murdaugh was asked directly whether he had killed Maggie and Paul. He asked Owen whether he thought he killed Maggie and Paul. Owen expressed a desire to further inquire Murdaugh on matters pertinent to the investigation.[5]
The trial is ongoing and it remains to be seen whether Murdaugh will be found guilty of the murders of his wife and son.
0. “Murdaugh admits to lying about roadside shooting in Sept. 2021, spent as much as $50K per week on drugs” WYFF4 Greenville, 16 Feb. 2023, https://www.wyff4.com/article/south-carolina-murdaugh-admits-to-lying-shooting-spent-50k-per-week-on-drugs/42943224
1. “Alex Murdaugh Was Paying Up to $50,000 a Week for Drugs, Lawyer Says” PEOPLE, 16 Feb. 2023, https://people.com/crime/alex-murdaugh-paying-50000-week-for-drugs-his-lawyer-says/
2. “LIVE: Day 19: Jury hears crime scene reconstruction evidence.” Live 5 News WCSC, 16 Feb. 2023, https://www.live5news.com/2023/02/16/live-day-19-state-resume-case-after-judges-reversal-murdaugh-shooting/
3. “Murdaugh murders investigator didn't learn of crucial blood test until after arrest” Charleston Post Courier, 15 Feb. 2023, https://www.postandcourier.com/murdaugh-updates/murdaugh-murders-investigator-didnt-learn-of-crucial-blood-test-until-after-arrest/article_cb8e50ee-ad47-11ed-ac64-4f3e125e4ba8.html
4. “Alex Murdaugh cries as trial hears how Paul’s brain was blown from skull and bullets tore through Maggie” The Independent, 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/alex-murdaugh-trial-maggie-paul-autopsy-b2282233.html
5. “Court Hears Alex Murdaugh Recount Botched Suicide-for-Hire Plot” The Daily Beast, 16 Feb. 2023, https://www.thedailybeast.com/alex-murdaugh-admits-to-botched-suicide-for-hire-plot-using-his-drug-dealer
