The trial started Jan. 23 with jury selection, opening arguments and the initial round of witness testimony. Prosecutors say Murdaughs motive lurks in a history of theft. He tucked his hand under the bodies armpits, Harvey said, and estimated the time of death for each to be about 9 p.m., though it could have varied by about an hour earlier or later. Arriving in court on Monday morning just hours before his testimony he was heard outside court vowing that justice is coming. This comes after jurors heard four weeks of dramatic testimony from 61 prosecution witnesses covering a trove of circumstantial evidence, including cellphone and car data, a damning video placing Mr Murdaugh at the crime scene and apparent holes in his alibi for the time for the murders. By then just hours on from the murders SLED had already released the scene back to the Murdaugh family. In February of 2018, the Murdaugh family's housekeeper Gloria Satterfield fell down the stairs at the Murdaughs home while working and suffered trauma to her head. When Murdaughs defense attorney Jim Griffin asked if he had found out who was the murderer on behalf of his slain nephew, John Marvin replied, I have not. He checked with law enforcement before he went down there, and was told the scene had been cleared and he could go, he testified. SC judge sends Murdaughs alleged accomplice Curtis Smith to jail for breaking bond, Lawyer wants Mallory Beach attorney removed, subpoenas phone records with SC reporters, Ex-SC banker, Murdaugh accomplice Russell Laffitte given $500K bond in federal fraud case, SC judge denies issuing gag order in Alex Murdaughs murder trial of wife and son, Hampton SC tangles with tattered reputation and broken trust after Murdaugh murder indictment, Alex Murdaugh pleads not guilty as judge mulls gag order, speedy trial in murder case, Alex Murdaugh to face charges in June 2021 shooting deaths of wife and son, Curtis Smith charged with helping Murdaugh in $2.4M money laundering scheme, From an SC jail, Alex Murdaugh tried to get his son back into USCs law school, Rotting away. Recorded phone calls depict Alex Murdaughs life in Richland County jail, Youve done some illegal stuff, Alex Murdaughs son tells dad in jail phone recording, Murdaughs financial victims indicate lawsuit coming against former Hampton bank CEO, Alex Murdaugh may be in trouble with court after giving up wifes estate. Prosecutor Savanna Goude ended her brief cross-examination of the defenses previous witness, pathologist Dr. Jonathan Eisenstat, by asking about the trajectory of the shotgun blast that killed Paul Murdaugh. They called him Little Rooster, Pau Pau, my kids called him that, John Marvin said. Alex Murdaugh, a once prominent Hampton-based attorney from a well-known politically connected family, is on trial in the deaths of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. A lot.. He and other family members were later shown the blue raincoat investigators said they recovered from a closet inside the house. Not only has the prosecution not introduced evidence of a bloody shirt at the disgraced Lowcountry attorneys double-murder trial in Colleton County, but jurors have heard blood could never be conclusively found on the clothes Murdaugh wore when he called 911 on the night of June 7, 2021. How to watch the Murdaugh double murder trial, who to follow from The State, Island Packet, the states own forensic pathology witness, forensic pathologist who testified on the states behalf, admitted to a trove of financial fraud crimes, followed by at least two prosecution reply witnesses, Timeline puts Murdaugh at crime scene, SC prosecutor says in trial closing after Moselle visit, Day 27 live updates: Murdaugh family weapons killed victims, SC prosecutor says in closing, Update: Woman charged after driving car across golf course and into pond with child inside, The pollen count in Myrtle Beach is spiking. But in 2021, that all changed after former I don't know what I saw, it was just terrible," John tearfully told the jury. Maybe for some type of understanding, he said. Forensic pathologist Dr. Jonathan Eisenstat said the techniques used to determine the temperature of Maggie and Paul Murdaughs bodies at the crime scene gave little to no information about their times of death. I cant say weve had an opportunity to even speak, John Marvin said. That shooter would have had a lot of biological matter on them, potentially in their eyes, and some pellets from their gunfire could even have come back to stun them, he said. He Who is Spencer Roberts, a newly introduced SC defendant linked to Smith and Murdaugh? On Tuesday, the state called reply witnesses to the defense case, and later in the week the jury is expected to visit the crime scene at Moselle itself before they deliberate on a verdict. Where Was Buster When His Mom & Brother Were Shot? Casings found that match a rifle purchased by Murdaugh. Was it a murder weapon? John Marvin testified that he called his friend Michael Paul a law enforcement official to ask if it would be okay for him to clean it up before he did. The defense has called Dr. Jonathan Eisenstat, a Georgia-based forensic pathologist and physician, to the stand. John Marvin Murdaugh. Defense, witness dispute what Alex said, Day 7: Witness says someone held Maggie Murdaughs cellphone around time of death, Murdaughs defense floats 2 shooter theory, as prosecutors take aim at alibi, Guns seized at crime scene shown to Murdaugh murder trial jury, Bloody footprint at Murdaugh murder scene was not from either victim, witness says, Day 6: Prosecution shares key interviews with Alex Murdaugh conducted days after the murders, 5 key takeaways from Alex Murdaugh trial: Gunshot residue, clean clothes raise questions, First week of Murdaughs trial a showcase of shocking violence, evidence and emotion, SC defense attorney questions why so many on Murdaugh jury say they never heard of the case, Pools of blood: Jurors watch drone video of crime scene at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Murdaughs behavior changed during investigation, SLED statement scrutinized, Attorney Dick Harpootlian wants to take Murdaugh jury to Moselle crime scene, Loving father, or murderous storm? Now, attorneys go to work, Day 3: Dueling opening arguments conclude in Murdaugh murder trial, lawyers recount killings. Reader discretion is advised. John Marvin testified that he promised Paul back when he was cleaning the room that he would find who killed him. Heres a breakdown, New SC judge taking over some of Alex Murdaughs criminal cases. The Murdaughs are a prominent legal family in the Palmetto State, with three generations serving as the elected solicitor in the 14th Judicial Circuit for 87 consecutive That led him to conclude the murders werent carried out by one person, he said. Here's what we know about the case, and specifically the whereabouts of Alex's brother John Marvin. We had a very special relationship but I knew him very well, he said. John Marvin testified that he met with investigators a lot over the course of the investigation and had been shown evidence that officials had connecting his brother to the murders. A normal family doing family things, he told the court of the dynasty which has ruled over the local judicial system for almost a century. Not only has the prosecution not introduced evidence of a bloody shirt at the disgraced Lowcountry attorneys double-murder trial in Colleton County, but jurors have heard blood could never be conclusively found on the clothes Murdaugh wore when he called 911 on the night of June 7, 2021. John still does not believe that his brother is at fault for the murders. He decided to clean his nephew's remains to honor his memory. Defense expert says height unrealistic to have killed Maggie, Day 21: Murdaughs defense revives two-shooter theory as forensic expert takes the stand, Murdaughs defense begins effort to undermine case for Lowcountry attorneys guilt, Car data mapped Alex Murdaughs movements the night of the murders. Eisenstat also said he believes the gunshot traveled through the top of Murdaughs head and downward, while Riemers report indicated the shot traveled up Murdaughs shoulder and out the top of the skull. We had a special relationship.. Meet the judge presiding over Alex Murdaughs murder trial, SC jury seated in Alex Murdaugh murder trial. She also showed jurors photos of blood coating a series of elevated shelves in the Moselle kennels feed room. I would stop, crying for a moment, just in disbelief.. Riemer found that the shotgun blast traveled up through Pauls head from about 3 feet away. But with what? Heres why. This later turned out to be false, with forensic tests finding no human blood on the shirt. Im not blaming anybody. Eisenstat is the second forensic pathologist to take the stand in the trial, following Dr. Ellen Riemer, the forensic pathologist who testified on the states behalf. Now, it's probably important to note that Alex's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all served as top prosecutors for most of South Carolina. Alex Murdaugh admitted to lying about his whereabouts the night of the murders when he testified in his own defense last week. The day after Maggie and Paul were shot and killed at the familys rural Colleton County property, John Marvin wanted to go out to the dog kennels where his nephew and sister-in-law had been murdered. Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty. A lot, Palmbach responded simply. He said he used Find My iPhone and located the phone along Moselle road, around a quarter of a mile from the Murdaugh property. No blood was found on any of Murdaughs other clothes, or on his skin. John Marvin said he showed the location to nearby SLED investigators, but they turned him away, noting they had their own technology coming later that day to help locate Maggie Murdaughs cellphone. He described a duck-hunting trip he went on with Paul in a duck blind on his property. Mr Murdaugh then gave him Maggies password so that investigators could get into the phone, he said. Here are the latest updates on Alex Murdaugh. On Dec. 13. a judge set Murdaugh's bail at $7 million. Dueling arguments face off in Murdaugh trial opener, Watch: Attorneys make opening statements in Alex Murdaughs trial, Who is Clifton Newman? Goude asked how that would be possible without the shooter also leaving their own bloody footprints inside the feed room. Phone records showed that Alex left his house at 9 p.m. to go visit his mother, and he claims that on his return home he found his family murdered. Missing Murdaugh law firm money raises questions: How much taken? Mr Murdaugh also had a great relationship with Maggie, he said, saying they often went on family vacations and trips with their sons friends. Judge Clifton Newman excused the jury briefly while defense and prosecution argued over the testimony. He told the court how he later learned that some of the evidence was not accurate. Associated Press/Report for America. John Marvin said he, his brother and sister were later shown the coat which was covered in gunshot residue and which prosecutors believe Mr Murdaugh used to move and hide the murder weapons. He said paranoid thoughts brought on by his opiate addiction caused him to repeatedly tell investigators he wasnt at the Moselle kennels the night his wife and son died. Most wont be called, but the list includes Murdaughs surviving son, Buster, and brothers, John Marvin Murdaugh and Randy Murdaugh, who is an attorney in Murdaughs old law firm. On Tuesday, the state called reply witnesses to the defense case, and later in the week the jury is expected to visit the crime scene at Moselle itself before they deliberate on a verdict. The shirt ultimately tested negative for human blood, jurors learned earlier in the trial, although the state grand jury was told those tests were positive. After the states response witnesses are called, Judge Clifton Newman said the jury will visit the crime scene. The 12 men and women of the jury and two alternates visited the Moselle crime scene early Wednesday. Without the jury present, Alex Murdaughs defense attorney Dick Harpootlian asked Judge Clifton Newman if the jury might be allowed to visit the Murdaughs former property at Moselle, where the murders of Paul and Maggie Murdaugh occurred. The family had been told their father, Randolph, was in the hospital, but that it could be pneumonia, and not a complication of his cancer. But there was drama, Ex-SC banker Russell Laffitte found guilty in fraud trial that put Murdaugh in spotlight, SC judge delays Mallory Beach wrongful death trial set for Jan. 9 against Murdaugh, Parker, In closing argument, prosecutor insists absolute power corrupted Russell Laffitte, Laffitte defends loans he approved to Murdaugh as prosecutor grills him in bank fraud trial, Recording showed Laffitte bank wanted to keep secret its $680K payoff to theft victim, Russell Laffitte testifies, said he unintentionally helped steal client money for Murdaugh, Russell Laffittes SC attorney tries to make case borrowing money not unusual, Alex Murdaugh reveals alibi in court filing, says he wasnt home during murders, Russell Laffittes father says he approved controversial loans to Alex Murdaugh, Prosecution rests in Laffitte trial, defense makes case loans to Murdaugh were normal, Russell Laffitte did not have authority to issue Alex Murdaugh money, witnesses testify, SC car crash victim says she was unaware settlement money went to Alex Murdaugh, his family, Like a father figure: SC sisters with money managed by Laffitte testify at fraud trial, Journalist Vicky Ward dismissed from Mallory Beach lawsuit after naming source of photos, Russell Laffitte didnt have SC bank approval to make Murdaugh payments, official testifies, Prosecutors paint Russell Laffitte as decision maker in Murdaugh financial crimes, Laffitte stole money from accounts he supervised, says cousin and SC bank board member, Alex Murdaugh was confronted day of murders about missing legal fees, prosecutor says, Russell Laffitte trial: SC jurors picked, prosecutor ties case back to Murdaugh and murder, Will Alex Murdaugh appear at ex-SC banker Russell Laffittes federal trial? The defense has called Alex Murdaughs brother, John Marvin Murdaugh, to testify. Mr Murdaugh was broken and distraught, he said, later saying he would have to make up a new word to describe how distraught he was in the aftermath. Timeline puts Murdaugh at crime scene, SC prosecutor says in trial closing after Moselle visit, Day 27 live updates: Murdaugh family weapons killed victims, SC prosecutor says in closing, SC detective tells jurors Alex Murdaugh clothes were clean night of murders, Support my work with a digital subscription, Engagement vs entertainment: Murdaugh draws mass attention. A SC veteran lawyer weighs in, Maggie Murdaughs cellphone was active the night she was murdered. It was terrible., Standing there, I felt like it was something I needed to do for Paul to clean it up. John Marvin said. I told him I loved him, and I promised him that Id find out who did this to him, he said. Prior to his indictment, a Colleton County grand jury was told that Mr Murdaughs shirt was covered in blood spatter evidence that he was next to one of the victims when they were shot. Rumors in the South Carolina town quickly spread, proposing that Stephen was the victim of a homophobic hate crime because of his supposed secret relationship with Buster. Who is Alex Murdaugh? Judge to decide, Russell Laffitte heads to federal court on charges in the first Murdaugh-related trial, Judge says Murdaughs SC island can be sold, 401(k) cashed out to pay lawyers and receivers, New HBO series explores Murdaugh familys grip on Lowcountry, deaths and financial crimes, Ex-SC banker Russell Laffitte says bank docs may exonerate him on some fraud charges: motion, From DNA to Curtis Smith, SC lawyers in Murdaugh double murder trial fight over evidence in court, SC prosecutors deny holding Murdaugh evidence, say defense trying to color the public view, SC judge calls abuse of power allegation ridiculous after 2017 police report surfaces, SC judge sets Thursday hearing as lawyers in Murdaugh murder trial continue to spar, Alex Murdaughs lawyers say Eddie Smith failed polygraph about Maggie, Pauls murders, Alex Murdaughs ex-SC law firm fires back after Mexican citizen sues over missing money, Alex Murdaugh SC murder trial in double killings of wife, son to start in January 2023, Judge reinstates Alex Murdaugh as defendant in Mallory Beach boat crash death lawsuit, Citing errors, ex-SC banker Laffitte moves to dismiss federal indictments against him, SC judge to reconsider ruling separating Murdaugh from Mallory Beach fatal boat crash case, Ruling in Murdaugh-Mallory Beach trial challenged on fairness, money and legal grounds, Ex-SC banker Russell Laffitte given Nov. 8 trial date on federal fraud charges, Judge separates Murdaugh from Parkers convenience stores in fatal boat crash trial, Judge loosens bond conditions for Russell Laffitte, ex-banker accused of federal fraud, Feds, defense lawyers argue over Russell Laffittes money and role in Murdaughs schemes, Murdaugh attorneys, SC prosecutors battle over leaks, evidence in double murder case, Russell Laffitte plundered SC sisters settlement under his control, new lawsuit alleges, Murdaugh attorneys subpoena SLED agents for Monday murder pretrial hearing, Paul Murdaughs cellphone video depicts happy family before killings, source says, Judge delays ruling in ex-bank CEO Russell Laffittes bid to lower bond argued excessive, Ex-banker Laffitte claims injury from Alex Murdaughs unprecedented media firestorm, Document: Prosecutors in Murdaugh murder case leaked confidential information to media, Feds hit ex-SC banker and Murdaugh friend Russell Laffitte with new fraud charge, Alex Murdaugh stole from former SC law firm and his brother, new indictments charge, Murdaughs lawyers accuse SC attorney general of withholding murder evidence, leaks to media, Alex Murdaughs lawyers want states evidence turned over in murder case. 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