LIVE: Day 1 Murdaugh Family Murders Trial | SC v. Alex Murdaugh

Summary

The judge opened the trial by explaining that Alex Murdaugh is charged with two murders and two firearm offenses. He emphasized that Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty, is presumed innocent, and can be convicted only if the state proves his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Jurors were instructed to decide the facts based on courtroom evidence, avoid outside information, and not discuss the case until deliberations.

The prosecution’s case

Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters argued that Murdaugh shot his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at the family’s Moselle property on June 7, 2021. He said Paul was shot with a shotgun and Maggie with a .300 Blackout rifle, both at close range.

Waters highlighted a video recorded by Paul at the kennels at about 8:45 p.m. He said it captured the voices of Paul, Maggie, and Alex together shortly before both victims’ phones stopped registering activity. The state argued that this contradicted Murdaugh’s later claim that he had not been at the kennels.

Waters also previewed evidence about the family’s firearms and ammunition, including shell casings allegedly linking a missing replacement rifle to Maggie’s shooting. He said investigators would present phone and vehicle data, recorded statements, body-camera footage, forensic evidence, and evidence concerning a raincoat and gunshot residue. The prosecutor suggested that events in Murdaugh’s life had been building toward the killings and urged jurors to consider the evidence as a whole.

The defense’s case

Dick Harpootlian said the prosecution’s account was speculation and argued that there was no eyewitness, fingerprint, blood evidence, or other forensic evidence directly tying Murdaugh to the killings. He portrayed Murdaugh’s relationship with Maggie and Paul as loving, pointing to family interactions and a video of Alex and Paul together shortly before the murders. He also argued that Murdaugh’s grief and shock explained his behavior and statements after discovering the bodies.

Harpootlian challenged the state’s interpretation of the timeline and phone records, saying the data were incomplete and that Murdaugh’s vehicle data accounted for his movements after leaving to visit his mother. He argued that the lack of blood on Murdaugh’s clothes was inconsistent with the prosecution’s theory and said gunshot residue could be explained by Murdaugh handling a shotgun after the killings. The defense also questioned whether the missing firearms could be conclusively identified as the murder weapons and suggested the possibility of more than one perpetrator.

The first witness was not called that day because of a courtroom audio problem affecting the planned body-camera evidence. The judge recessed proceedings until 9:30 the next morning and reminded jurors not to discuss or research the case.

Presenters and contributors

• Judge: Not identified by name in the subtitles
• Creighton Waters: Lead prosecutor, South Carolina Attorney General’s Office
• State’s legal team: David Fernandez, Savannah Gao, John Matters, Don Zelenka, John Conrad, and Johnny James
• State investigators: David Owen, Lieutenant Charles Getz, Special Agent Ryan Kelly, Special Agent Peter Rodolski, and Investigator Isaac Toledo
• Dick Harpootlian: Defense counsel
• Defense counsel: Jim Griffin, Philip Barber, and Margaret Fox