Day 2: Murdaugh lawyer says no evidence he ‘butchered’ wife and son, judge allows SLED witness

Alex Murdaugh, a once prominent Hampton-based attorney from a well-known politically-connected family, is on trial in the deaths of his wife and son.

Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty. He faces life in prison without parole if found guilty. The trial started Monday with jury selection, and is expected, for now, to run through Feb. 10 in Walterboro.

How to watch the Murdaugh double murder trial, who to follow from The State, Island Packet

4:45 p.m. — Judge allows SLED witness to testify

Judge Clifton Newman ruled Tuesday that Paul Greer, a firearms analyst with SLED, may take the stand as a witness in the trial.

“The witness is firm in his opinion based on his years of experience and training,” Newman said.

Court will be in recess until 11 a.m. Wednesday.

4:25 p.m. — SLED firearms analyst questioned about shell casings

Paul Greer, a firearms analyst with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division, said shell casings found near the crime scene match shell casings found elsewhere on the Murdaugh property. He said they have not been able to locate a gun matching the casings.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters said he believes the shell casings match a gun purchased by Alex Murdaugh.

3:00 p.m. — Attorney says Murdaughs were ‘the perfect family’

In a heated motions hearing, Alex Murdaugh defense attorney Dick Harpootlian excoriated prosecutor Creighton Waters for trying to use evidence of Murdaugh’s financial crimes in the murder trial. He painted the Murdaughs as a loving family and said there were photos of Alex and Paul Murdaugh “having a good time” at a ball game the day of the murders.

“His theory is that he knew the jig was up, so he went home and butchered, blew the head off his son, and butchered his wife. There’s not one shred of evidence there was any problems between any of them,” he said. “There is no dispute anywhere that they were the perfect family in terms of their relationship — no divorce, no separated, no left him, no nothing.”

2:45 p.m. — Lawyers clash over evidence

Both parties headed back into court Tuesday afternoon for a motions hearing. Prosecutors and Murdaugh’s defense team are expected to clash over whether certain pieces of evidence can be admitted in court.

2:30 p.m. — Top Forge employee with ties to Murdaugh may testify

Michael Gunn, a top employee at Forge Consulting, a Georgia-based financial firm, is listed as one of the 255 witnesses. The company, which helps structure settlements in personal injury and wrongful death cases, was thrust into the spotlight amid Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes. Murdaugh is accused of using the company’s name to steal from his clients.

The real Forge Consulting has publicly disavowed Murdaugh’s financial crimes, stating it had no knowledge he was using the company name. But Gunn does have ties to the Murdaugh family.

Alex and Maggie Murdaugh took a private jet to attend Gunn’s wedding in New York City in 2016, according to photos posted on Maggie Murdaugh’s Facebook page.

2:15 p.m. — How to watch Murdaugh trial

Court TV is live streaming video of the Murdaugh trial. Watch live at this link.

2:10 p.m. — Who will testify in the Murdaugh murder trial?

Both parties on Tuesday released the full list of 255 people who may testify in the Murdaugh murder trial. The lengthy list includes employees of law enforcement agencies, lawyers from Alex Murdaugh’s former law firm and several of the alleged victims of Murdaugh’s financial crimes.

Alex Murdaugh’s older brother Randy Murdaugh is listed as a witness for both the prosecution and defense. Murdaugh’s remaining son Buster Murdaugh and his younger brother John Marvin Murdaugh are listed as witnesses for the defense.

1 p.m. — Court breaks for lunch

After completing the final round of jury screening, Newman orders the court to recess for lunch.

Proceedings are expected to resume at 2 p.m. for pre-trial motions, where attorneys will likely tussle over the use of certain pieces of evidence in the trial, including blood spatter and Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes.

11:45 a.m. — Newman screens final panel of jurors

Newman completed his questioning of the fourth and final panel of prospective jurors late Tuesday morning. He asked the jurors to return to the courthouse at 11 a.m. Wednesday for what will likely be the final phase of selection.

11:30 a.m. — Will Alex Murdaugh’s younger brother testify?

When Judge Clifton Newman read aloud the names of more than 250 people who may testify, he offered a look into the far-reaching tentacles of the Murdaugh world. The list included employees of law enforcement agencies, lawyers from Alex Murdaugh’s former law firm and several of the alleged victims of Murdaugh’s financial crimes.

Among the lengthy list was the name of Alex Murdaugh’s younger brother John Marvin Murdaugh. If he does serve as a witness, John Marvin Murdaugh’s testimony may prove to be key in the trial.

“I have not been subpoenaed as of yet,” John Marvin Murdaugh said in a text to a reporter.

A phone call Alex Murdaugh said he placed to his younger brother, and others, on the night his wife and son were killed is part of the once-prominent attorney’s alibi. John Marvin Murdaugh was also involved in retrieving a piece of evidence in the case — the cell phone of Maggie Murdaugh, which was found on a road near the crime scene using an app on the phone of Buster Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh’s remaining son. Buster Murdaugh was also listed as a potential witness.

John Marvin Murdaugh, who sells and rents farm equipment near Bluffton, told The Island Packet last year he’s had “multiple interviews and conversations” with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division in the wake of the murders. In an interview with the newspaper, he said he didn’t believe his brother have killed his wife and son.

“No, I do not believe he did,” he said, but added, “Is it possible that he could have? Well, I guess anything’s possible, but I don’t believe it.”

He said he’s “certain that he did not. That is my belief and I truly believe that to my core. But I also understand that, you know, maybe I don’t know things. Maybe SLED knows a lot more than I do.”

“All I can tell you is what I believe and I don’t believe he had anything to do with it,” he said

9:07 a.m. — Alex Murdaugh arrives

Alex Murdaugh arrived at the Colleton County Courthouse shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. He was flanked by deputies from the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office as he strolled into the building.

Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m.

8:58 a.m. — Jury selection to continue as town awaits crowds

Judge Clifton Newman will screen the fourth batch of potential jurors in the trial Tuesday morning. Newman interviewed three other panels Monday morning, asking potential jurors how much they know of the events surrounding the Murdaugh murders. They were asked whether they know Murdaugh, or if they have any connection to the Murdaugh dynasty.

Outside the Colleton County Courthouse, observers were still waiting for the true-crime fanatics that many expect to overwhelm Walterboro.