Live: Day 2 of witness testimony in Alex Murdaugh murder trial
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COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Witness testimony will resume Friday in the murder trial for Alex Murdaugh.
Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife Margaret and youngest son Paul at their family property in June of 2021.
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Six witnesses were called to the stand Thrusday — four first responders on scene the night of the murders and two 911 operators — giving what was at times extremely graphic testimony.
Murdaugh broke down in tears several times, particularly when photos or videos depicting Paul’s body were shown.
Court is expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. with more witness testimony.
MURDAUGH MURDER TRIAL LIVE BLOG:
9:37 a.m. – Detective Laura Rutland with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office is called as the seventh witness. The prosecutor jokingly asks if she’s nervous. She says yes. He says “don’t worry, no one is watching.” She mainly focuses on child crimes and internet crimes against children.
Rutland lives in Ridgeville, about 45 minutes to an hour away from Colleton County. She was the one to prepare the search warrant for the property on the night of the murders.
Upon learning that she had no knowledge of the Murdaugh family and was only vaguely familiar with the boat crash, she was appointed as the SLED liaison.
Rutland said that when she got to the scene, the first thing that struck her was the overwhelming smell.
As she describes the nature of Maggie and Paul’s injuries, Murdaugh doubles over sobbing.
Rutland said that after she saw the bodies, she went over to talk to Murdaugh. He was standing with his brother Randy and a man who he introduced as his personal attorney, Danny Henderson.
Rutland said that she saw what appeared to be fresh shoe impressions in a sandy area near the hangar shed. They appeared to be flat shoes or flip-flops, according to Rutland. She said she was positive it was just one set and it looked like the person walked in one direction and then maybe doubled back.
She and her supervisor, Jason Chapman, followed the prints. They were careful to walk alongside them, about a foot to the left she said. They appeared to go down to the end of the building and turn around. She said that was the only set of prints that she saw.
Rutland looked at the shoes Maggie was wearing to see if they could be the shoes that matched the impressions, and Rutland said they were very similar.
The prosecutor asks if the defense contacted her about the footprints. She said they did.
They then review Rutland and lead SLED agent David Owens’ interview with Murdaugh on scene. They conduct the interview in Owens’ car because it is raining. Rutland, Owens, Murdaugh, and Danny Henderson are in the car.
Body camera footage of the interview is played. Murdaugh sounds like he is sobbing uncontrollably as he describes discovering the scene.
Murdaugh tells them he tried to turn Paul over and his cell phone popped out of his pocket. He said he put it back immediately. He said that he tried to take both Paul and Maggie’s pulses and then called 911. Murdaugh said after he called 911 he called his brother Randy and his brother John and then tried to call a neighbor.
Owens questions Murdaugh about the family relationship. He describes his and Maggie’s relationship as wonderful; he says they had some issues, but it was normal. He says his and Paul’s relationship was as good as it could be.
Owens asks if they’ve had any problems out there. Murdaugh says the boat wreck is the only thing that comes to his mind. He says there has been a lot of negative publicity, a lot of people online saying nasty stuff, and that when Paul goes out he has been “punched and hit, attacked a lot.” Owens asks if Paul has received any direct threats. Murduagh says repeatedly that Paul gets them all the time.
9:06 a.m. Alex Murdaugh arrived at the courthouse for day five of his double murder trial with a suit jacket covering his handcuffs.
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