Items of a long-awaited puzzle come collectively because the South Carolina Lawyer Common’s workplace begins piecing collectively a double homicide case in opposition to fired Hampton lawyer Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, who’s accused of killing his spouse Maggie and son Paul on the night time of June 7, 2021, after an alleged decade-long crime spree that resulted in The tip resulted in additional than 100 legal prices.
Prosecutors are piecing collectively the thriller of the internationally publicized homicide and revealing bits and items of recent data to the jury, the media and the general public, however there are nonetheless loads of unanswered questions.
The double homicide trial concluded its first week of proceedings on Friday afternoon and is predicted to renew at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Key revelations from the primary week of Alex Murdaugh’s double trial
- Between the state lawyer common’s workplace, which handles all Murdue circumstances, and the protection, the official potential witness listing contains 255 individuals.
- The marking, mannequin and trademark data on 300 Blackout rifle cartridges discovered on the homicide scene matched different ammunition discovered all through the Murdaugh, Moselle, property, prosecutors say.
- Prosecutors consider a “household weapon” was used to kill no less than one of many victims, Maggie.
- 300 Blackout rifle, which Murdaugh purchased for his son Paul in 2017, has disappeared from Murdough’s property, however Murdough’s lawyer Richard Harbotlian says it was stolen.
- Each our bodies have been discovered face down in a pool of blood and mind materials, with Paul’s fingers beneath his physique, when police arrived on the scene.
Friday abstract:Investigators’ testimony continues to yield compelling proof
- Maggie’s physique was discovered about 30 toes from Paul’s, based on a police testimony.
- Paul’s cellphone was discovered mendacity on its again finish close to the again pocket of his pants.
- Murdo informed officers who responded instantly that the killings have been associated to a 2019 boat crash and a wrongful loss of life lawsuit involving his son, and made strategies for different suspects, based on the police affidavit.
- Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters informed the jury in opening statements {that a} witness noticed Mordo sporting a blue raincoat to his mom’s dwelling in Almeida, simply outdoors Farnville, one week after the homicide. A blue raincoat was later discovered “coated” on the within with gunshot residue, or GSR.
- GSR can also be discovered on the fingers of Murdau and the suburban seat belt that leads him to the crime scene.
- Murdaugh initially informed 911 staff and police that he final noticed his spouse and little one about two hours earlier than the homicide, however Waters stated the AG had a cellphone video of him putting him on the crime scene later than he stated.
Simply the info:Reply questions concerning the trial of Alex Mordo and the household
- Murdo’s cellphone reveals no exercise between 8:09 PM and eight:52 PM the night time of the capturing.
- State testimony supplied by CCSO investigator Laura Rutland contradicted Mordo’s declare that he had tried to roll urine and checked his pulse.
- Mordors informed police that Paul obtained threats and was assaulted after the extremely publicized boat wreck.
- On the night time of the homicide, Murdaugh had his brother Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh IV, an lawyer within the household legislation agency, and his “private lawyer” Daniel Henderson sit with him whereas Slade and the Colleton County Sheriff performed a subject interview about him. 1 am
- After the killings, SLED divers searched the ponds on the property, in addition to the close by Salkehatchie River, on the lookout for clues such because the homicide weapons.
- SLED obtained permission to obtain cellphone knowledge not solely from Murdaugh, Maggie, and Paul, but additionally from his brothers Randy and John Marvin Murdaugh and his surviving son, Richard “Buster” Murdaugh Jr.
New testimony, proof that raises new questions
When items of the puzzle come collectively, there are lacking items that prosecutors have not crammed in for the jury and viewers. There are numerous points raised however unanswered:
- What’s going to cellphone knowledge and automobile GPS knowledge reveal from Alex, Maggie, and Paul?
- Whereas Paul’s cellphone was discovered on his physique, Maggie’s was discovered beside the highway roughly 1 / 4 to a half mile away. Prosecutors stated that Mordo’s GPS knowledge didn’t match the placement of her cellphone. Who threw the cellphone away and why?
- There was just one automobile the relations have been driving that night time that he was driving on the crime scene: the Suburban Murdo he was driving there. How did Maggie and Paul get to the kennels the place they have been shot? Did they stroll greater than 1,000 yards on a sizzling, windy summer time night time, or journey with somebody?
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- Prosecutors stated Paul’s white Ford F-250 was not on the crime scene that night time and was discovered wrecked inside Hampton County, alongside SC Freeway 63. Proof was taken from the automobile. Is that this associated to the crimes?
- Water was discovered throughout Paul’s physique, witnessed by first responders and police, and was the topic of a number of traces of questioning. What’s the significance of water? Did the suspects or suspects try to clean proof or clear themselves?
- Police reported a number of tire tracks at or close to the scene. The place have been all of them from the identical automobile, or have been they different individuals on the Moselle homicide scene that night time?
- Proof of a print which may match Maggie’s shoe is taken. What’s the significance of this proof?
- Lastly, Murdough’s protection staff has raised and can proceed to ask the next questions: Who else might have killed Paul and Maggie? Might there be a couple of shooter?