Alex Murdaugh: Who is the disgraced lawyer and why is he on trial?
Alex Murdaugh’s words in the aftermath of the murders of his wife and son continued to be in focus Tuesday at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina.
In his second interview with law enforcement officers – three days after he was accused of shooting dead Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, at the family’s property in Islandton – he appeared to say: “I hurt him so badly” in reference to his son.
While prosecutors tried to suggest he was slipping, others raised doubts, with some believing he was saying: “They did him so badly.”
The jury was also given more information about the wide variety of ammunition found on the property that was used in the murders, as well as details of the Murdaugh boys’ weapons. Intriguingly, twice prosecutors have found a credit card statement in the trash with a purchase from Gucci Circle.
Some of the most exciting evidence of the day came from a detailed analysis of Maggie’s cell phone data, from which prosecutors are trying to pinpoint an accurate time of death from the phone’s event log.
The trial is just one of Mr. Murdaugh’s problems in a saga spanning a botched hitman plot, multi-million dollar fraud schemes and unexplained deaths.
Watch: The shocking five-word statement after the woman and son were killed
Alex Murdaugh: Lawyer’s shocking five-word statement after wife and son killed
An investigator testified that Alex Murdaugh said “I hurt him so bad” through sobs during a taped interview three days after his wife and son were killed. The attorney, 54, is on trial on two counts of murder in the shootings of his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22. In the interview, Murdaugh spoke with Special Agent Jeff Croft at his brother’s house about his and his family’s movements . the day of the murders. Others inside and outside the court believe the interview appears to indicate Murdach saying “They did him so badly.” Sign up for our newsletter.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 1, 2023 06:40
A timeline of murders, financial fraud, unexplained deaths and arrests
Mr Murdaugh, 54, is accused of shooting Paul, 22, twice with a shotgun and Maggie, 52, five times with a shotgun at the family’s sprawling hunting lodge in Islandton on June 7, 2021.
In the 19 months since the brutal double murders thrust the Murdaughs into national headlines, a series of other scandals, allegations and alleged crimes have also come to light.
Here’s a timeline of the key moments in the case:
Oliver O’Connell1 February 2023 04:40
The big question in court: Did Murdaugh admit to accidental murder?
Audio of Mr. Murdaugh’s second interview with the attorney was played at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, on Monday, in which the scathing legal dynasty heir revealed for the first time the shocking five-word statement.
“I made him feel so bad,” he seemed to say of his son.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 1, 2023 02:40
Key revelations from the Alex Murdaugh murder trial so far
Rachel Sharp catalogs the decisive moments so far in the high-profile trial in Colleton County, South Carolina.
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 1, 2023 01:40
The agent insists Murdaugh suggested he killed his son
A state agent insisted Tuesday that he heard a possible confession from Alex Murdaugh, even after defense attorneys for the negligent South Carolina attorney slowed down the audio during Murdaugh’s double-murder trial.
At issue is whether Murdaugh said “I hurt him so bad” or “They hurt him so bad” when he sobbed and spoke to state agents during a taped interview three days after Murdaugh’s wife and son were killed .
State Law Enforcement Division Senior Special Agent Jeff Croft said he was “100% confident” Murdaugh said “I.”
Oliver O’ConnellFebruary 1, 2023 00:40
Murdaugh’s cell phone data revealed as trial hears details about ammunition found in the house
Cell phone records have revealed that Alex Murdaugh called his wife’s phone in the minutes after she was brutally shot – while ammunition matches used to kill her and her son were on the family’s property.
Oliver O’ConnellJanuary 31, 2023 11:40 p.m
Court goes into recess
The court adjourned until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, when Lt. Dove’s testimony will continue.
Oliver O’ConnellJanuary 31, 2023 10:40 p.m
We are now taking steps taken by the iPhone health app.
Lt. Dove explains that it is not the most accurate data, but gives an indication of movement. Maggie’s phone moved 38 steps from 8.17pm after the phone was switched off.
Another 43 steps were taken between 8.30pm and 8.33pm.
Another 59 steps were taken between 8.53pm and 8.55pm, during which there were orientation changes and the camera opened for a second but the phone did not unlock.
No further steps were taken until the next day when the phone was collected.
Oliver O’ConnellJanuary 31, 2023 10:39 p.m
There is then a gap of 22 minutes before the next event log at 21:31 when the screen turns on and off several times – possibly when the phone was moved.
At 21.34 Rogan Gibson’s unread text comes in.
At 9:47 p.m., Alex texted “Call me, babe.” That text is unread.
There was no further activity.
Oliver O’ConnellJanuary 31, 2023 10:31 p.m
At 9.04pm Maggie’s phone receives the first call from Alex’s phone which remains unanswered.
At 21:06 there is a change in orientation to the portrait, indicating that the phone was in someone’s hand. Two seconds later another call comes into her phone from Alex’s phone and goes unanswered.
There are no orientation changes after that.
About 30 seconds later, the third call comes in from Alex.
At 21.07 the screen goes on and off.
At 21.08 Alex texts that he will see his mother. The text is never read.
There is a gap of 2 minutes and seven seconds between the call from Alex and the text from him.
Oliver O’ConnellJanuary 31, 2023 10:26 p.m
