Items of a long-awaited puzzle come collectively because the South Carolina Lawyer Basic’s workplace begins piecing collectively a double homicide case in opposition to fired Hampton legal professional 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 costs.
Prosecutors are piecing collectively the thriller of the internationally publicized homicide and revealing bits and items of latest info 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 anticipated to renew at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Key revelations from the primary week of Alex Murdaugh’s double trial
- Between the state legal professional normal’s workplace, which handles all Murdue circumstances, and the protection, the official potential witness record consists of 255 individuals.
- The marking, mannequin and trademark info on 300 Blackout rifle cartridges discovered on the homicide scene matched different ammunition discovered all through the Murdaugh, Moselle, property, prosecutors say.
- Prosecutors imagine a “household weapon” was used to kill a minimum of 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 legal professional 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 palms underneath his physique, when police arrived on the scene.
Friday abstract:Investigators’ testimony continues to yield compelling proof
- Maggie’s physique was discovered about 30 ft from Paul’s, in accordance with a police testimony.
- Paul’s mobile phone was discovered mendacity on its again finish close to the again pocket of his pants.
- Murdo instructed officers who responded instantly that the killings have been associated to a 2019 boat crash and a wrongful dying lawsuit involving his son, and made solutions for different suspects, in accordance with the police affidavit.
- Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters instructed the jury in opening statements {that a} witness noticed Mordo carrying a blue raincoat to his mom’s house in Almeida, simply outdoors Farnville, one week after the homicide. A blue raincoat was later discovered “lined” on the within with gunshot residue, or GSR.
- GSR can also be discovered on the palms of Murdau and the suburban seat belt that leads him to the crime scene.
- Murdaugh initially instructed 911 staff and police that he final noticed his spouse and little one about two hours earlier than the homicide, however Waters mentioned the AG had a mobile phone video of him putting him on the crime scene later than he mentioned.
Simply the information:Reply questions concerning the trial of Alex Mordo and the household
- Murdo’s mobile phone reveals no exercise between 8:09 PM and eight:52 PM the night time of the taking pictures.
- State testimony offered by CCSO investigator Laura Rutland contradicted Mordo’s declare that he had tried to roll urine and checked his pulse.
- Mordors instructed police that Paul acquired 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 legal professional within the household regulation agency, and his “private legal professional” 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, in search of clues such because the homicide weapons.
- SLED obtained permission to obtain mobile phone information not solely from Murdaugh, Maggie, and Paul, but in addition 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 stuffed in for the jury and viewers. There are numerous points raised however unanswered:
- What is going to mobile phone information and automobile GPS information reveal from Alex, Maggie, and Paul?
- Whereas Paul’s telephone was discovered on his physique, Maggie’s was discovered beside the street roughly 1 / 4 to a half mile away. Prosecutors mentioned that Mordo’s GPS information didn’t match the placement of her telephone. Who threw the telephone away and why?
- There was just one automobile the members of the family 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 scorching, windy summer season night time, or trip with somebody?
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- Prosecutors mentioned 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 scrub 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 may have killed Paul and Maggie? Might there be a couple of shooter?