Alex Murdaugh trial – live: Disgraced lawyer’s alleged financial crimes allowed as evidence in murder case
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Judge Clifton Newman ruled that the evidence of Murdaugh’s financial crimes is germane to the murder case and therefore can be considered by the jury.
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Disgraced legal dynasty heir Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes came under the spotlight in his trial for the double murders of his wife and son in court on Monday.
Judge Clifton Newman ruled that the evidence of Murdaugh’s alleged fraud is germane to the murder case and therefore can be considered by the jury with regards to its role in establishing a motive.
Mr Murdaugh is accused of shooting dead Maggie and Paul at the kennels of the family’s vast hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina, on 7 June 2021.
Separately, he is facing around 100 charges for allegedly stealing more than $8m in settlement money from clients at his law firm.
Until now, testimony about his alleged financial crimes has so far been heard without the jury present.
Last week, this included testimony from the sons of the Murdaugh’s late housekeeper Gloria Satterfield – whose death is now being reinvestigated – who say he stole a $4m settlement from them.
There was also emotional testimony on Monday from the caretaker of Murdaugh’s mother who said the defendant had told her if anyone asked that he was at his mother’s house for longer than he was on the night of the murders.
Court adjourns
After Ms Hall’s explanation of the collection and testing of the materials, the jury is dismissed for the day.
Judge Newman addresses Mr Harpootlian’s objection to the inclusion of the blue rainjacket based on what Ms Smith testified earlier in the day.
There is a dispute as to whether she identified the jacket when she talked about the tarp that Mr Murdaugh brought to his mother’s house. The prosecution said she testified something was balled up as the jacket was.
It is suggested that Judge Newman examines the transcripts for the day and makes a decision.
Court adjourns. The trial will resume tomorrow at 930am.
While the shoes and clothes were tested the day after the shooting, the seatbelt was tested on 1 September 2021 and the rainjacket was tested on 5 October.
Ms Hall testifies about testing Mr Murdaugh’s shoes the day after the murders.
She did not notice any blood on either the top of bottom of the shoes.
Mr Murdaugh said in interviews with police that he checked the bodies of both his wife and son for pulses and tried to turn Paul over. Both were lying in pools of blood.
Small reddish-brown stains and the fresh smell of laundry detergent were noted on t-shirt which was odd given that most clothes are musty by the time they come in for testing.
Ms Hall also tested the seatbelt from Mr Murdaugh’s Chevy Suburban.
Ms Hall testifies the 7 June 2021 Gunshot Residue kit test of Alex Murdaugh’s hands was collected properly. She passed it along for analysis.
She also identifies the shorts and t-shirt that he was wearing when police arrived at the Moselle Road property.
New Witness: Jamie Hall, SLED trace evidence department
The next witness is Jamie Hall who was a forensic technician in the trace evidence department of SLED.
She left SLED in 2022 and now works for the West Columbia Police Department as the evidence custodian.
Judge Newman explains the rules about evidence from Mr Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes to the jury.
He tells them they can’t consider this evidence in determining the defendant’s character or propensity to commit crimes.
It is only to considered as evidence of Mr Murdaugh’s possible motive for the murders.
New Witness: Natasha Moodie, Bank of America
The next prosecution witness is Natasha Moodie of Bank of America. She identifies various bank records including documents opening an account and statements.
The state moves to enter them into evidence.
Court is resuming.
Before the jury is brought in, defence attorney Dick Harpootlian raises the issue that no one has directly linked the rainjacket with the defendant and objects to testimony being presented to the jury that it was coated in gunshot residue.
The state responds that in her testimony Ms Smith said it was balled up and identified it in a photo on the inside of the second-floor closet.
Mr Harpootlian contends she did not identify it but said it was similar.
Judge Newman overrules the objection.
Source: independent.co.uk