An lawyer for Richard “Alex” Murdaugh will deliver a closing argument Thursday in the former South Carolina attorney’s double murder trial.
Guide prosecutor Creighton Waters sent his daylong closing argument Wednesday, arguing Murdaugh, 54, killed his spouse and son in June 2021 to prevent accountability when alleged money crimes have been about to be found out. Waters’ closing argument came after the jury visited the home where 52-calendar year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and 22-calendar year-old Paul Murdaugh were uncovered lifeless in close proximity to dog kennels on the residence.
The protection will likely place a weighty emphasis on casting reasonable question on the prosecution’s circumstantial evidence during its closing argument. After Murdaugh’s attorney delivers a closing argument, the prosecution will have one more possibility to rebut any new claims introduced by the protection prior to the jury commences deliberating.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is seeking existence in jail if Murdaugh is convicted. Regardless of the result, Murdaugh continues to be jailed on $7 million bond on theothercosts he faces.
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Prosecutor describes Murdaugh’s ‘motive,’ ‘means,’ ‘opportunity,’ and ‘guilty acts’
Guide prosecutor Creighton Waters said “accumulating storm” was threatening Murdaugh’s relatives legacy and prosperous regulation practice and Murdaugh killed his family members to prevent being held accountable. Murdaugh was confronted by his legislation firm about alleged economical misconduct just times in advance of a listening to was scheduled in a case connected to a deadly 2019 boat crash involving Paul, Waters said. Meanwhile, Murdaugh’s family was “watching him like a hawk” owing to his opioid habit, Waters mentioned.
While investigators have not observed the two weapons applied to get rid of Murdaugh’s loved ones, Waters mentioned proof showed “family members weapons have been used to commit this criminal offense.”
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A video taken on Paul’s phone captured Murdaugh’s voice, which Waters reported placed him “at the scene of crime when the murders occurred.” Murdaugh in the beginning informed law enforcement he was not at the family’s pet dog kennels right before discovering the bodies there, but admitted in courtroom he lied to investigators and that his voice could be read on the video.
Soon following browsing the dog kennels, mobile phone information showed Murdaugh made several small phone calls and drove to his mother’s home which Waters explained was an endeavor to create an alibi.
“As all these pressures were mounting, the defendant killed Maggie and Paul,” Waters claimed. “The forensic timeline places him there, the use of his loved ones weapons corroborates that and his lies and guilty steps afterwards confirms it.”
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Make contact with Breaking News Reporter N’dea Yancey-Bragg at nyanceybra@gannett.com or observe her on Twitter @NdeaYanceyBragg