Alex Murdaugh Trial Continues Despite COVID-19 Test Results and Dismissal of Jurors
Alex Murdaugh is standing trial in Walterboro, South Carolina for the June 7, 2021 murders of his wife and youngest son.[0] Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his defense team is arguing that he is innocent. This week in court, jurors heard from a variety of witnesses including a law school buddy, the office manager from the Murdaugh family law firm, and the son of the Murdaughs’ housekeeper and nanny.
On Monday, Judge Clifton Newman revealed that two jurors had to be dismissed after testing positive for COVID-19.[1] Only three alternates were left after the jurors were replaced with them.[1] As of Monday, the trial is set to proceed as planned; however, it may be postponed if anyone else is found to have COVID-19.[1]
The jury also heard from Medical University of South Carolina forensic pathologist Dr. Ellen Riemer.[2] She conducted the autopsies of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh and testified that Maggie had five gunshot wounds from at least four gunshots.[3] She believes Maggie was on her hands and knees or at least doubled over before she was fatally shot in the head.[3]
The jury was also sent to the jury room for a few moments while Prosecutor Savanna Goude questioned SLED forensic serologist Rachel Nguyen.[4] Nguyen testified that all the swabs from Murdaugh’s SUV tested negative for blood except the swab taken from the steering wheel.[5] Fingernail clippings from both Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were also entered into evidence.[6]
[0] The prosecution has maintained that the raincoat brought by Murdaugh to his parents' residence could have concealed one of the murder weapons, as testified to earlier. Alternatively, he could have been carrying a blue tarp.[5]
[0] It is alleged that Murdaugh believed his theft was going to be exposed, and so he murdered his wife and son in an attempt to conceal the evidence of the stolen funds.[0]
To recap, Murdaugh stands accused of killing his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and youngest son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh, on his family’s hunting property in Colleton County, S.C. on June 7, 2021.[7]
0. “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/
1. “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/
2. “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
3. “Pathologist: Wounds to Paul and Maggie Murdaugh show they were within 2 to 3 feet of the shooter” WJCL News Savannah, 13 Feb. 2023, https://www.wjcl.com/article/murdaugh-trial-live-stream-13/42854461
4. “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
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. “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/
7. “‘Week In Review' From Walterboro: Another Wild Week At Alex Murdaugh's Double Homicide Trial” FITSNews, 11 Feb. 2023, https://www.fitsnews.com/2023/02/11/week-in-review-from-walterboro-another-wild-week-at-alex-murdaughs-double-homicide-trial/
