Prosecution Denounces Alex Murdaugh as ‘Family Annihilator’ in Trial – Rolling Stone

Closing arguments in the double homicide trial of Alex Murdaugh ended on Wednesday. Prosecutors sought to persuade the South Carolina jury that Murdaugh murdered his spouse Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, and that the disbarred lawyer was a “household annihilator” who used the killings as a technique to halt investigations into his alleged monetary crimes.

Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters offered digital information and video pulled from the victims’ cellphones, which he stated positioned Murdaugh on the crime scene on June 7, 2021. A number of witnesses stated Murdaugh’s voice might be heard within the background of a video taken by Paul simply minutes earlier than prosecutors allege the homicide occurred. Murdaugh has since admitted that he lied to authorities about his whereabouts the night time of the murders, however claims he was “nowhere close to” his spouse and son “after they acquired shot.”

Waters offered information extracted from Murdaugh’s cellphone, which allegedly tracked his steps and claimed that he moved at a quicker tempo after the murders earlier than leaving the property for his mom’s dwelling.

“He wouldn’t even admit till he was compelled to that he was on the scene,” Waters informed the jury. “After which he’s as busy as he’ll ever be.”

Waters additionally claimed that Murdaugh had entry to firearms earlier than he shot his spouse and son on the household’s Colleton County searching compound in June 2021.

“She heard that shot and was working to her child when she acquired mowed down by the one individual that we have now conclusive proof was at that scene simply minutes earlier than,” stated Waters.

Shell casings discovered on the scene of the crime have been used to match the kind of weapons used to kill Margaret and Paul with firearms recognized to belong to the household. The prosecution stated that investigators haven’t discovered the 2 homicide weapons: a .12-gauge shotgun and .300 Blackout assault-style rifle.

Earlier Wednesday, jurors got greater than an hour to go to the out of doors property the place Margaret and Paul’s our bodies have been discovered, per NBC. The concrete pad the place Paul fell after being shot twice by a shotgun was seen, whereas bullet holes in a again window have been nonetheless seen, per the report.

In his closing arguments later that day, Waters described a “gathering storm” surrounding Murdaugh as his alleged monetary troubles and reported thefts from purchasers and his former regulation agency threatened to be uncovered.

“These pressures mount,” stated Waters, “and that particular person turns into a household annihilator.” Waters added, “They have been all reaching a crescendo on the day his spouse and son have been murdered by him.” Prosecutors additionally stated that Murdaugh has claimed Paul and his spouse have been murdered in connection to investigations over Paul’s function in a 2019 drunken boating accident that had left a 19-year-old lady lifeless, and implied that he’s tried to halt the investigation attributable to that incident and monetary woes.

The homicide trial of Murdaugh started in January and has concerned greater than a dozen witnesses for the protection and 61 for the prosecution. Murdaugh’s members of the family, together with his youthful brother, John Marvin Murdaugh; surviving son, Buster; and the defendant himself; have testified earlier than the 12-person jury.

If discovered responsible for the 2 counts of homicide, Murdaugh faces 30 years to life in jail with out parole, along with one other 5 years for 2 counts of possession of a weapon through the fee of a violent crime.