Alex Murdaugh trial - live: Son Buster hugs aunt after she testifies about Maggie’s affair suspicions

Oliver O'Connell and Rachel Sharp

During a day of graphic and emotional testimony, the double-murder trial of Alex Murdaugh heard from the pathologist who examined his wife and son; their dog caretaker; and Maggie’s sister Marian Proctor.

The defendant, accused of shooting the victims at the family’s dog kennel in June 2021, was in tears as testimony confirmed Paul was shot first in the chest and then fatally in head, removing his brain. Maggie was shot four times, sustaining injuries to her kidney, chest and finally to the back of her head. They were killed with a shotgun and a rifle respectively.

Compelling evidence from employee Dale Davis about a hose in the kennels was seemingly overturned during cross-examination, though he also noted the dogs were in different pens after the murders.

Meanwhile, Ms Proctor spoke lovingly about her sister and nephew, the shock of the murders, and how she picked up on odd things Murdaugh said in the aftermath.

When he was shot in September 2021 in a botched hit, she found out about his financial problems, and her perception of things changed. On her way out of court, she was seen hugging his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh.

Court resumes at 9.30am on Wednesday.

Alex Murdaugh murder trial

Buster Murdaugh hugs his aunt after her emotional testimony

Tuesday 14 February 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge to rule on roadside shooting evidence

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

The judge at Alex Murdaugh’s double-murder trial is set to decide today whether or not jurors can hear testimony about the bizarre September 2021 roadside shooting – which later turned out to be a botched hitman plot.

On 4 September 2021 – three months on from the 7 June 2021 murders of Maggie and Paul – the disgraced attorney was ambushed in what he initially claimed was a drive-by shooting along a road in Hampton County.

He survived and called 911, claiming he was changing a tire on his vehicle when someone opened fire on him from another car.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated for what police called a “superficial gunshot wound to the head”.

But, Mr Murdaugh’s story about the incident quickly unravelled.

One day after the shooting, Mr Murdaugh entered rehab for a 20-year opioid addiction and announced he had resigned from his law firm PMPED.

One week later on 13 September, he then confessed to law enforcement that he had orchestrated the whole saga, paying an alleged hitman to shoot and kill him in an assisted suicide plot so that his surviving son Buster could get a $10m life insurance windfall.

He told investigators that he had paid Curtis “Eddie” Smith – a former law firm client, distant cousin and allegedly his drug dealer – to carry out the shooting.

Both he and Mr Smith were arrested and charged over the incident.

Judge Clifton Newman will hear arguments from the defence and prosecution on Wednesday morning about the inclusion of evidence at 9.30am ET on Wednesday – before jurors return to Colleton County Courthouse at 10.30am ET.

The ruling could pave the way for hotly-anticipated testimony from Mr Smith – a former client, distant cousin and alleged drug dealer of Mr Murdaugh’s.

Key revelations from the Alex Murdaugh murder trial so far

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s a dramatic saga that now includes murder, a botched hitman plot, multi-million-dollar fraud schemes and a series of unexplained deaths.

The now-disbarred attorney denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Murdaugh’s trial got underway at Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro on 23 January.

Here are the key revelations from the trial so far:

‘Confession’, bloody scene and ‘clean’ shirt: Key moments from Alex Murdaugh trial

Dramatic bodycam footage shows Alex Murdaugh sobbing and asking ‘are they dead’

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Dramatic bodycam footage has finally been released showing Alex Murdaugh on the night of his wife and sons’ murders, capturing the disgraced legal dynasty heir pacing around the dog kennels, sobbing and wailing, and repeatedly asking: “Are they dead?”

The footage was taken from the bodyworn camera of Colleton County Sheriff’s Sgt Daniel Greene when he became the first law enforcement officer to respond to the scene of the brutal slayings at the Murdaugh family’s 1,700-acre estate back on 7 June 2021.

In the video, the seemingly-upset legal scion is seen repeatedly asking the officer if his wife Maggie and son Paul are dead and asking “did you check” their bodies to see if they’re still alive.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Dramatic bodycam footage shows Alex Murdaugh on night of murders

Murdaugh expected to testify at murder trial, reports say

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Murdaugh is expected to testify in his trial for the alleged double murders of his son and wife, according to new reports.

Mr Murdaugh is accused of shooting his wife Maggie and son Paul dead at the family’s sprawling 1,700-acre property in Islandton, South Carolina, on the night of 7 June 2021. The prosecution has argued in court that the disgraced legal scion committed the murders to distract from his mounting financial and legal scandals.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Alex Murdaugh expected to testify at murder trial, reports say

How a garden hose became prime evidence at Murdaugh murder trial

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The man who took care of the dogs at Alex Murdaugh‘s home testified Tuesday during the disgraced attorney’s double murder trial that puddles of water were not where they should have been and the dogs were in the wrong kennels when police arrived after Murdaugh’s son and wife were killed.

But under cross-examination, Dale Davis acknowledged that the hose, which he said he meticulously hung up before leaving the afternoon of the killings, could be seen on the ground in video investigators said was taken just before the shootings.

Read the full story:

Hose becomes prime evidence in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial

Watch: Pathologist discusses Paul Murdaugh’s fatal wounds

00:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Maggie Murdaugh’s sister says Alex told her wife and son didn’t suffer in horrific murders

Tuesday 14 February 2023 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Maggie Murdaugh’s sister has revealed how Alex Murdaugh reassured her that his wife and son did not suffer when they were brutally murdered.

Questioned by the prosecution, Ms Proctor recounted the moment she found out her sister and nephew had been killed. Ms Proctor became emotional as she testified that she initially could not wrap her hand around the tragedy, and thought there had to be a mistake.

Andrea Blanco reports on her testimony.

Maggie Murdaugh’s sister says Alex told her wife and son didn’t suffer during murders

Watch: Maggie Murdaugh’s sister gives emotional testimony at trial

Tuesday 14 February 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:56 , Oliver O'Connell

The prosecution wants to play a recorded statement from Murdaugh admitting he had Cousin Eddie shoot him in the head on the side of the road and wanted to die so Buster could get life insurance, The insurance company wouldn’t pay out if it was a suicide.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:54 , Oliver O'Connell

The defence tells Judge Newman that the defendant has admitted to the circumstances of the roadside shooting — Cousin Eddie being asked to shoot him in the head so Buster could get $10m in insurance money.

Prosecutors counter by saying Murdaugh lied that day, which proves intent.

Harpootlian responds: “He didn’t want to do it to gather sympathy. He did it because he wanted to be dead.”

He adds that Cousin Eddie has given “no less” than six versions of the events of that day.

“I am looking forward to cross-examining Eddie Smith.”

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:37 , Oliver O'Connell

The prosecution says it has no further witnesses to call today as someone has been delayed because of circumstances beyond their control.

The jury is sent home early.

After a short back and forth, Judge Newman orders the jury to return at 10.30am tomorrow. During the extra hour tomorrow morning, he will hear arguments over the admissibility of the roadside shooting evidence in September 2021.

New Witness: Barton Proctor, Marian’s husband

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:32 , Oliver O'Connell

In brief testimony, Barton Proctor, Marian’s husband and Maggie’s brother-in-law, identifies Paul, Maggie, and Alex’s voices on the kennel video.

On cross-examination, he is asked if he was shown a picture of the blue raincoat. He says he was shown it but had never seen it before.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Proctor’s testimony concludes with her saying that the story initially told by Alex in the aftermath of the roadside shooting turned out not the true and this changed her perception of what had transpired.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:26 , Oliver O'Connell

Switching tack, Mr Creighton asks whether Maggie had been concerned prior to the murders about Alex’s use of opioids.

“Yes.”

She says she is not sure how long it had been going on but that it was for some time.

Ms Proctor is then asked if Maggie had a nickname for Paul.

She replies, yes and that it was “Little Detective.” The nickname came about because he would always keep an eye out for if his father was behaving and was not abusing opioids.

He would try and find any pain pills Alex had in the house to make sure his father couldn’t take them.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Proctor testifies about learning of Alex being shot on the side of the road in September 2021.

Initially, she was concerned that he might be dead and felt the family was being targeted and was concerned for Buster.

She called Buster, who said Alex had been airlifted to hospital.

Ms Proctor called Jim Griffin and learned that he had been fired from his job.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 21:19 , Oliver O'Connell

Judge Newman rules that Ms Proctor cannot testify about the allegations that Alex Murdaugh had an affair 15 years prior as it is too confusing.

She can testify about how she found out that Alex has been fired because he had been stealing, and that he had a problem with opioids.

The defence team says it may have hearsay objections about her testimony.

The jury is brought back in.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 20:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Further confusing things, it transpires that Ms Proctor was informed that Alex had been fired from the law firm for stealing by defence attorney Jim Griffin.

He immediately objects that his own conversation with the witness is hearsay, causing an eruption of laughter in the courtroom.

Returning to the marital issues, Alex had an alleged affair in 2007 that the defence team says did not happen.

Ms Proctor says Maggie and Alex were able to resolve their issues from then but her sister still brought it up as it still bothered her.

Judge Newman orders a 15-minute recess.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 20:55 , Oliver O'Connell

The court reporter reads out a transcript of the exchange between Mr Griffin and Ms Proctor for context.

With the jury out of the room, Ms Proctor testifies she and her husband got a call in September 2021 from a friend who said they were sorry to hear about Alex. They didn’t know what they were talking about and were told that Alex had been shot.

“I thought whoever had killed Maggie and Paul had now shot Alex. I was horrified that Buster was next.”

State’s attorney Creighton Waters adds that he wants to ask Ms Proctor about fidelity/marital issues and opioid abuse. The defence says that would be opening a “Pandora’s box”.

Returning to what happened after the roadside shooting, Ms Proctor said: “We were very concerned for the family. We felt like someone was after them. But then we started finding out about other things that had been going on in Alex’s life.”

Tuesday 14 February 2023 20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Proctor is asked about how she came to believe Alex wasn’t focused on finding who killed Maggie and Paul (and was instead focused on clearing Paul’s name over the boat case).

“We never talked about it. We never talked about finding the person, who could have done it. It was just odd. We were sort of living in fear because we thought this horrible person was out there. We were mostly afraid for Alex and Buster but we didn’t know the motive behind the killings. We thought it probably had something to do with the boat case. And we thought that up until September. And then things started to change a little bit.”

With her response, Ms Proctor may have opened up for the prosecution to bring the roadside shooting of Alex Murdaugh into evidence in front of the jury.

The jury is sent out while both legal teams present their cases for the inclusion or exclusion of the botched hitman job.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 20:21 , Oliver O'Connell

Defence attorney Jim Griffin conducts the cross-examination and himself sounds emotional, noting what a “special person” Maggie was — they knew each other through the boat crash case.

Referring to her earlier testimony, Ms Proctor notes that in retrospect it probably wasn’t that odd that Maggie did not go to Almeda to Alex’s parents’ house if his father had already been readmitted to hospital.

She would also feel sad visiting Alex’s mother because of her worsening Alzheimers.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 20:06 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Proctor testifies Alex talked about the boat crash case after the murders.

“He was very intent on clearing Paul’s name,” she told the court. “He said his number one goal was clearing Paul’s name. I thought that was so strange because my number one goal was to find out who killed my sister and Paul.”

She adds: “I know he must have wanted that too. But I don’t know how he could have thought about anything else.”

Tuesday 14 February 2023 20:05 , Oliver O'Connell

“I didn’t talk to Alex a lot. Alex was just really busy. The whole town was coming to see him. He was very, very, very torn up.”

Ms Proctor asked Alex if he thought Maggie had suffered and he assured her she had not.

“Now, I’m not sure that that’s true.”

Later, she asked Alex if he had any idea who had done this. She testifies that he said that he did not know who it was, but he felt like whoever did it had thought about it for a really long time.

Ms Proctor said she found it odd that Maggie had not gone with Alex to his parents’ house in Almeda given that was why she had gone to Moselle. She adds that she was unaware that Alex’s father had been taken into hospital.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:59 , Oliver O'Connell

Upon hearing that Maggie and Paul had been killed that night, Ms Proctor says: “I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think it was true. I said there has to be a mistake.”

She and her husband went to tell her parents and stayed with them all night.

They went to Moselle the next morning.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:58 , Oliver O'Connell

On 7 June 2021, Maggie told Ms Proctor that Alex’s father had taken a turn for the worse and he had asked her to come to Moselle and that Paul would be there too.

She cries as she explains that she encouraged Maggie to go and be with Alex.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Proctor says Maggie wanted to move away and looked for a new family home in the Hilton Head area. When she found one she liked, Alex advised her that the timing was not right because of the boat case.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:54 , Oliver O'Connell

Things changed after the boat crash.

Says Ms Proctor: “That was a devastating blow for their family. It was a horrible accident, but it was an accident. Maggie felt like the Hampton community had turned against her. Paul was being mistreated.”

She adds: “People would say mean things to him, call him names. Social media. Inappropriate things were said to him. Inappropriate things were said to him when he went back to school. It was very hard on the family. It was very stressful.”

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Maggie had nothing to do with the family finances.

“They had a comfortable life. Maggie was happy. It wasn’t a lavish life, but it was a comfortable life,” says Ms Proctor.

“Money was never an issue for her, that she knew about.”

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:51 , Oliver O'Connell

She describes her sister as a “girl’s girl”, a stay-at-home mom, but who would go fishing and hunting with her boys.

“Maggie was sweet. She was kind of a free spirit. She was always up for anything that was going on. She loved her family. She loved her boys. Buster and Paul were her world. She loved her parents.”

About Paul she says: “Paul was a sweet, sweet boy. Misrepresented in the media. He had such a kind side to him. He was always wanting to help. ... He was a kind soul, and I loved him a lot.”

New Witness: Marian Proctor, Maggie sister

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:43 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness for the prosecution is Marian Proctor — Maggie’s sister.

So far we have only heard very little about Maggie from those close to her, whereas we have heard from a number of Paul’s friends — though they have also all spoken highly of Maggie.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:41 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Griffin challenges Mr Burney that his analysis of Murdaugh’s funds was limited to his liquid assets and not his real estate holdings, 401K, other retirement funds, and his stake in the law firm.

He also did not consider his ability to raise capital from Palmetto State Bank.

It is also established that Cousin Eddie (Curtis Smith) received approximately half a million dollars of the traced funds.

He maintains in redirect that he was looking at Murdaugh’s liquid assets — i.e. funds he could access quickly.

Court resumes

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:29 , Oliver O'Connell

Court has resumed after lunch.

The jury is back in the courtroom and defence attorney Jim Griffin is cross-examining forensic accountant Carson Burney.

Watch: Housekeeper testifies she was told to clean house after murders

Tuesday 14 February 2023 19:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Murdaugh expected to testify at murder trial, reports say

Tuesday 14 February 2023 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Alex Murdaugh is expected to testify in his trial for the alleged double murders of his son and wife, according to new reports.

Mr Murdaugh is accused of shooting his wife Maggie and son Paul dead at the family’s sprawling 1,700-acre property in Islandton, South Carolina, on the night of 7 June 2021. The prosecution has argued in court that the disgraced legal scion committed the murders to distract from his mounting financial and legal scandals.

Andrea Blanco reports.

Alex Murdaugh expected to testify at murder trial, reports say

Tuesday 14 February 2023 18:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Burney’s testimony explains how he used the “first in, first out” method of tracking money through Murdaugh’s various accounts (including those at Palmetto State Bank and the fake Forge account at Bank of America).

His testimony mirrors what he said during the in-camera portion of the trial and concludes that Murdaugh did not have anywhere near the funds to fulfill his obligations to any of those to whom he owed money at the time of the murders.

Court breaks for lunch and resumes at 2.15pm.

New Witness: Carson Burney, state grand jury forensic accountant

Tuesday 14 February 2023 17:46 , Oliver O'Connell

The next new witness is Carson Burney, a state grand jury forensic accountant, who we heard from before in-camera, without the jury.

Mr Burney is qualified as an expert in forensic accounting with regards to the tracing of funds.

He will speak about Mr Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes and how they are germane to the motive for killing Maggie and Paul.

Watch: The kennel video

Tuesday 14 February 2023 17:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Tuesday 14 February 2023 17:34 , Oliver O'Connell

In cross-examination, Mr Davis concedes to defence attorney Jim Griffin that while he never saw any weapons in the feed room, he also says the Murdaughs left guns all over the place.

Shown the kennel video, Mr Davis is asked to confirm that at 8.44pm — moments before the murders — the hose is already unfurled and lying on the ground.

He also admits that if water was on the ground at that time it wouldn’t have dried up as the sun had set.

Mr Davis also describes Alex and Maggie as being “lovey-dovey” and recalls Alex and Paul as having a good relationship.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 17:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Davis fed the dogs and cleaned out the kennels at 4.30pm and left the property on 7 June, a few hours before the murders.

He explains which dog was in which kennel that night.

Mr Davis also explains where water would pool when he washed out the kennels every day. When shown the crime scene photos, he says that water is pooled in different places to where it should be — around the second and third kennels near the feed room.

The prosecution appears to be implying that someone hosed themself down that night after the murders.

Further, he also says the dogs were in different pens the day after the murders.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 17:09 , Oliver O'Connell

Mr Davis explains how he would put away the hose he used in a very particular way. He would stretch it out and then roll it up slowly so as to avoid damaging or splitting the hose.

Shown a picture of the crime scene, Mr Davis testifies the hose is not how he would have left it.

“Somebody used that hose after I did because it’s twisted.”

In early testimony, the jury heard there was water on the ground around the kennels before it rained that night.

Tuesday 14 February 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

He recalls Maggie being laid back and friendly.

Paul, he says was a bit wild, but liked to work, hunt, and be at the farm.

He says Alex Murdaugh was very particular about the care of the dogs.

New Witness: Roger Dale Davis, dog caretaker

Tuesday 14 February 2023 16:58 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness is Roger Dale Davis, who looked after the dogs for the Murdaughs.

He testifies that he would clean out the dog kennels twice a day — in the morning and the evening — and it would take about 45 minutes. He would also feed the chickens.

New Witness: Devin Newell, General Motors

Tuesday 14 February 2023 16:56 , Oliver O'Connell

The next witness for the prosecution is Devin Newell of General Motors.

Mr Newell and GM were not on the original witness list, however, oever the weekend GM has provided the prosecution with new data from Murdaugh’s 2021 Chevrolet Suburban from the night of 7 June 2021.

Mr Newell acknowledges that SLED sent a March 2022 search warrant to the company asking for data regarding the Suburban.

He testifies he only found out on Friday that GM had information on the vehicle that had not been provided to law enforcement.

Mr Newell testifies that the data salvaged includes vehicle diagnostics, battery systems, speed information and GPS location data. This is entered into evidence.

Court resumes

Tuesday 14 February 2023 16:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Court resumes and the jury is brought back into the courtroom.

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