WALTERBORO, S.C. — The judge in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial has decided to allow testimony about alleged financial crimes, a key win for the prosecution who claims it its necessary to prove motive in the case.
Judge Clifton Newman issued his ruling just before noon. For days, Newman has allowed testimony on this topic without the jury in the room, while he listened to determine if it was relevant. On Monday, he concluded it was.
Much of last week's trial surrounded a debate over whether claims of financial crimes could be admitted as evidence. Murdaugh is accused of taking millions from his former law firm and clients, including the family of his housekeeper who died after an injury while working at the Murdaugh family home.
Murdaugh is a former prominent attorney in South Carolina who's accused of killing his wife, Maggie, and adult son, Paul, at the family's 1,700 estate in Colleton County in June of 2021. The trial is taking place in nearby Walterboro, SC.
Prosecutors say Murdaugh shot to death both of the victims. The defense is arguing the case is a rush to judgment and that others are responsible.
You can find trial updates here every day. Live streaming coverage can be on wltx.com, on the WLTX+ streaming app on Amazon Fire and Roku TV, and on the News19 WLTX YouTube page.
Alex Murdaugh Trial Updates February 6
Mark Tinsley in camera testimony
Tinsley is a personal injury lawyer in Allendale and knows Alex Murdaugh through common cases with the PMPED firm. Tinsley represents the family of Mallory Beach civil suit against Alex Murdaugh. Mallory Beach died in the boat crash on Feb. 19, 2019.
Tinsley has sued Murdaugh, Luther’s Bar, Woodlands, the Murdaugh family trust, and Buster and Randolph Murdaugh. He says Beach’s mother had wanted to go to the scene of the beach accident the day after, but scene was cordoned off. Beach’s mother then saw the Maurdaugh family waived into the scene.
Tinsley reviewed Alex’ insurance available for damages to make sure funds were available for Beach family. He determined there $500,000 on the boat (a watercraft policy); no possibility insurance Alex had at the time of the crash that could go to the family. There was an open claim on his Nautilus/LLoyd’s of London umbrella insurance coverage from the Satterfield case, and that policy would not renew. The only other policy would pay out damages if Alex’s property was considered a commercial property.
Tinsley concluded Alex was under-insured.
Tinsley thought the case would settle and informed Alex’s lawyers from the start of the suit that Alex would be personally responsible for payment, not insurance companies.
In Aug. 2019, at the Trial Lawyers Conference in Hilton Head, Tinsley talked to Alex about boat case during a fundraiser event. Alex came over to him and said, “what’s this you’re saying about me, I thought we were friends?” Tinsley replied Alex needed to settle the case and would be responsible for payment.
PHOTOS: Alex Murdaugh murder trial - Day 11
During March 2020, COVID cut the court system down. Tinsley took affidavits from law enforcement but didn’t get into court. Tinsley said he presented his case to a mock jury and, when the outcome was favorable to Beach family, told defense of the favorable outcome.
Tinsley testified videos came to him that he shared with John Tiller, Alex’s lawyer, that were also favorable to Beach case.
As per the possible settlement in the Beach case, Alex said he was broke, and Tinsley didn’t believe it. Tinsley said Alex’s personal lawyer told him he had “crossed a line” by going after Alex’s personal finances in November 2020, but thought Alex could “cobble together” $1 million. Tinsley looked at Alex’s court calendar and saw he was still trying cases and was actively making money and thought Alex was worth more.
The Beach family wanted accountability through either a jury trial or large settlement. Tinsley explains he went after Alex rather than settle because if he settled by taking $1M, it would be seen as a “fix.”
Tinsley offered Alex’s team a payment plan, asked Alex to open his financial books (list all checking and savings – open and closed, 401 plans, IRAs owned individually and jointly, and all accounts over which Alex had signature authority from Feb 2019 to present) and to sign over the Moselle property as an option. Alex’s lawyers stonewalled and eventually rejected the offer which led Tinsley to file a motion to compel on Oct. 16, 2020.
Personal attorneys for Alex in the civil case included: Danny Henderson PMPD, John Tiller (Progressive), Amy Bauer, Elliot Condon
After motion to compel, Tinsley said a lot of grumbling was going on by other Murdaugh attorneys that Tinsley is going after Alex personally. Murdaugh doesn’t want to disclose, so Tinsley puts pressure on to Murdaugh to settle the case. Tinsley knew only way Alex to be broke was if money was hidden – Alex was working a lot of cases, making money, so Tinsley knew he wasn’t broke.
If he had gotten records, Tinsley would then have subpoenaed the financial institutions. Tinsley was looking for balances of Alex’s accounts and the accounts he controlled.
In August 2020, Tinsley testifies he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, as was Alex’s attorney John Tiller, so settling the case became a priority.
In April 2021. Conversation between Tinsley and his assistant reflect updates on the case: Tinsley says the case stays in Hampton County, but if he thinks Alex tampered with the jury, Tinsley said he would sue Paul and Maggie in Beaufort County. Tinsley said he relayed his decision to the defense team.
As of May 10 or 11, 2021, Tinsley testifies, there were a number of motions pending in the boat case.
On May 7, Tiller had chemotherapy and asked for continuance on the motions. The judge in the case responded he would go forward in the case as scheduled as there was another defense attorney available. Tinsley said he emailed the judge his motions could hold for Tiller to return, and Judge Hall reschedules the case for June 10, 2021. Tinsley’s motion to compel would have been heard that day but the murders of Paul and Maggie on June 7 caused a continuance.
Tinsley says he knew Alex through cases he worked and said Alex was extremely good at reading people and capitalizing with surprises on the defense, leveraging a lot of settlements.
After the murders, Tinsley said he recognized the case against Alex would be over if Alex was seen as being victim of vigilantes. A jury in the boat case would have been sympathetic to Alex and not have rewarded the Beach family any money. There was $500,000 offered early and that would have been what Tinsley took.
At some point in Sept. 2021, one of the Satterfield lawyers came to Tinsley’s office. Tinsley testified he sent him to Eric Bland.
CROSS EXAMINATION by Phillip Barber
Barber asks about Tinlsey’s testimony to the state grand jury. Tinsley said what says in court today is included in state grand jury testimony. He was asking for money and Tinsley thought Alex could pay.
Tinsley expected the case to settle but was willing to go to trial. No money had been offered by Murdaugh, so Tinsley was ready to go to trial. He believed he was close to going to trial in June 2021. He expected to go to trial somewhere between August to November 2021.
On June 7, 2021, there were “a number of things” that Alex’s lawyers knew Tinsley had asked for, and that Tinsley was ready for trial.
Barber asks: There were active motions before the court in the civil case -- motion to change venue, compel against Parkers, Parkers had 1 or 2 motions – and more motions have come since the murders? Tinsley says his case wasn’t dependent on motions against Parkers. Judge Hall wanted the case resolved, as did Tinsley. Tiller’s health issues were true, says Tinsley, and the reason for some delay in 2020, early 2021.
Barber: You had put motion for Parkers to supply financials as to percent of sales in alcohol. Judge Hall ruled the motion was premature as it related to damages.
Tinsley says Alex’s lawyers knew what the charges were, what the allegations were. Danny Henderson would have seen the records before Tinsley, and Tinsley has seen the records. “Judgement day” was the discovery.
Barber asks if the only thing he would have gotten on June 10 was a financial statement? Tinsley said he had seven circuit court judgements in his favor against Alex. Tinsley said the motion to compel was to put pressure on Alex.
Barber: The expectation on June 10 was not a full-scale forensic audit, was it? Tinsley doesn’t think a full-scale forensic audit was necessary.
Tinsley said he told the judge the Beach family grew up in Hampton and knew Alex and didn’t think he was broke. Therefore, the motion was made to open the financial books to see what type of settlement was available.
Barber asks Tinsley, if the hearing has gone forward on June 10, what did you expect? Tinsley knew Alex was getting the information together on Monday.
Would court have issued order on motion? Yes
What would order say? Once Tiller gets info from Alex and passed to Tinsley, if Tinsley deemed the information insufficient, there would be a motion to compel.
Tinsley repeats the motions in the Parker case and Alex Murdaugh case for a settlement in the Beach case are separate.
If June 10 went forward, it wasn’t a “judgement day” there would have been other judgements and motions, Barber says. Tinsley said the fuse lit when information came available to those who reviewed the finances, before turning information to Tinsley.
REDIRECT by Creighton Waters
Had June 10 happened, set in motion a process that has an inevitable conclusion, what is the net effect? Tinsley: Discovery of everything Alex has done.
If Alex was broke, he’d be hiding assets? Tinsley: If he was hiding assets, I would have found it.
You wanted the financial records from the institutions? Tinsley: Yes, because I didn’t trust numbers from Alex
Tinsley said he and Tiller had discussed what the issues would be at Alex’s civil trial with videos that surfaced from the boat accident and financial statements
Prior to murders, $1M was not going to be enough? Tinsley gave Murdaugh an amount, a payment plan option and option to sign over Moselle.
Judge Newman rules there is no attorney/client privilege on anyone not represented by Jim Griffin before the next witness is called.
Ronnie Crosby in camera testimony
Crosby is an attorney with Parker Law Group and former Law partner of Alex Mardaugh.
On June 10, 2021, were you present? It was a fluid event, Crosby testifies. He recollects late morning they gathered at John Marvin’s house. There was to be a meeting w law enforcement. I was present Mark Ball, Lee Cope, John Marvin, Buster arrived, Jim Griffin, and Cory Flemming was there.
Did Alex make a statement? We were there for support, and he went over events of evening, starting from time he got home form work to when he discovered Paul and Maggie.
Crosby testifies: We were inside at John’s sitting in a room together, I was doing more listening than talking. Statements I heard were not overheard as private conversation. There were some private conversations before that I’m not privy to before SLED arrived. We were in shock but wanted to find out what went on. We were all trying to find out what happened and who may be a potential suspect.
CROSS by Griffin
Danny Henderson was there? Crosby: Not at first but arrived
The meeting was scheduled so that others John Marvin, Buster, Randy could be interviewed by SLED? Yes, going over timeline of June 7
You were not scheduled to interview? No. Alex’s father died that afternoon, after the interviews were over.
Did you sit in car interview with SLED agents? No. Lee Cope (another attorney) and I were there for support.
Did you recall advice given to Alex about having a lawyer at this interview? Anyone would have thought it a good idea.
Crosby testified Alex never approached him to being his lawyer
Did you make it clear to Alex you weren’t representing him? Mr Griffin, we are all lawyers, it never crossed my mind that sitting in a room talking about things that I would be seen as Alex’s lawyer.
Can you say for certain that during conversations with Alex, there were any non-lawyers in the room? Crosby: I can tell you John and Buster were there for points in time, but I cannot tell you anything else it was a fluid situation, small talk going on with officers as well.
JUDGE NEWMAN RULES State’s motion to admit evidence of other crimes is admitted. Formal order will be file later today.
Testimony resumes before the jury.
Mushelle “Shelly” Smith
Mrs. Smith was born and raised in Hampton County and works for food service in the Hampton County School District and for her church in Fairfax, SC.
After her children grew up, she became a private home caregiver about 10 years ago. Her aunt is an LPN. Smith would stay with families until the person passed on and then go to another job. She worked at school at day, then caregiver in afternoon/evening.
She worked the evening shift for the Murgaugh’s after caregiver Barbara Mixson left her day shift, beginning in October 2019. As a caregiver, she took care of Alex’s mother at Almeda. Her primary job was for Miss Libby Murdaugh and every now and then for Mr. Randolph Murdaugh, Alex’s parents.
Smith testifies Libby Murdaugh’s condition became worse, suffering from Alzheimer’s.
In June 2021, Smith describes Libby’s condition as being unaware as to what was going on around her.
On May, school schedule 7:20 leave home, 8 at school; leave school around 1:30, go to bank and home to rest then from 8 p.m., stay all night with Murdaugh family and then go to school.
She was working at Almeda on June 7. Mr Randolph was admitted to the hospital on June 7. Smith got to Almeda on 7:45 p.m. that evening, caregiver Barbara Mixson was waiting for her to arrive. Libby was in bed at 8 p.m. when Smith started her shift and Mixson updated Smith on Libby’s condition and left. Smith stayed in the room in a recliner, watching television. She says she saw Alex Murdaugh approximately 8:30-9 p.m. that evening.
Smith had worked the overnight shift for two years. She said it was unusual to see Alex there visiting on her shift.
She testifies when Alex arrived, he called the house phone to tell her he was outside and to let him in. It took her about 5 minutes to go downstairs to let him in.
Smith testifies Alex was wearing shorts and a t-shirt with cloth shoes, like Sperry’s – not boots or tennis shoes – no socks. He appeared fidgety. He said he came to see his mother, but she was asleep. He came to Libby’s room and in sat on the bed. He said, “Hey Momma, I come to check on you.”
In her opinion, Smith testified Libby didn’t know he was there.
He stayed about 20 minutes, laying on the bed, on his phone. He did not attempt to hold another conversation. Libby was sleeping. After 20 minutes, Alex left.
Smith stayed until 8 a.m. and got calls from Mixson and Randy Murdaugh (Alex’s brother) early that morning. She was expecting John Marvin, Buster and his girlfriend and Alex would be coming to Almeda on June 8. Smith said she didn’t see Alex until that night.
After Paul and Maggie’s deaths, Smith was asked to work more at the house to help the family. Randolph Murdaugh passed on June 10, and she assisted with the repast after the funeral. Smith testifies she was with Libby during the visitation for Randolph. She testifies Alex came into the room and spoke like he always did. He told Smith he was “at the house (Almeda)” the night of the murders 30-40 minutes. Smith was upset about the conversation and called her brother to tell him about the conversation.
During the time of the murders, she was planning on getting married and Alex said on the day after, “I heard you were getting married, the wedding was going to be expensive,” and offered to help. He had never mentioned the wedding before.
After Randolph’s funeral, Smith saw Alex three days later at 6:30 a.m. at Almeda. He did not call and tell her she was coming. She knew he was there because he knocked on the window to tell her he was outside. She observed him in a white truck. There was still funeral equipment – a tent and a food truck – in the yard. She let him in, Libby was sleeping, He has something blue and vinyl in his hand, like a tarp. She couldn’t tell if there was something in the tarp. Smith testifies he went upstairs and then left the house, she thought. Smith then saw Alex in the driveway in Randolph Murdaugh’s truck. One of the four-wheelers was at the house and had been moved from the smokehouse to the house the morning Alex was there.
Smith testified Alex got out of a white truck and got into a black truck she had not seen until then. The black truck had been obstructed by the tent.
Alex looked like he had a small bruise on his forehead.
Smith identifies the blue object Alex was holding in a photo. She said she saw the blue tarp unfolded in a chair in one of the bedrooms and there was a camera system in Libby’s bedroom, on all the time.
Smith identifies a photo of the Almeda property showing the main house, a smokehouse and a shed. The smokehouse is where the ATVs are normally kept but there was one at the main house when Alex left.
Smith says she has talked to Harpootlian and Griffin last year about the case last year; Meadors talked to her a few months ago and last week.
CROSS EXAM by Griffin
Did anyone ever show you a blue rain jacket? She was shown a picture of a blue rain jacket? Did SLED or anyone from the State show you a picture of a blue rain jacket? No
Pulling out a blue tarp in the courtroom, Griffin asks, is this what Alex was carrying? It was a blue tarp
No way to see the handle of a shovel or a gun? No, it was balled up
When Alex left for the day, the tarp was laid out on Libby’s recliner? Yes
And you haven’t seen it since? No
Do you know where the picture was taken in the house? Or if it was taken in Libby’s house? Crosby: I don’t go into the closets, I’ve only been upstairs two times in three years.
So, you know where Alex went upstairs when he brought tarp in house? No
This was three days after Randolph Murdaugh’s funeral, early in the morning? Yes
The funeral was on a Sunday? Yes
A Wednesday Alex came? Yes
He came in a white truck and he has a white truck? Yes
Are you sure it was Randolph’s truck? Yes, Randolph kept truck in a certain position
When he came back, was Randolph’s truck in driveway, in its normal spot? Yes
Anything unusual about the truck? No
The four-wheeler had a flat tire and moved close to the house? Yes
Moved with flat tire? Yes
On the day of the funeral, you say you had a conversation where Alex said he was at the house 30-40 minutes and you said I don’t think it was that long? Yes
And the following day, the Monday where had conversation where you said you were getting married? yes
You said he was a good person? Yes
That he came June 7 and you said it was between 8:30-9:30 p.m.? yes
There 15-20 minutes? Yes, on the property 15-20
Including the 5 minutes to open the door? Yes
Alex would visit parents frequently, more than his siblings? Yes
Not out of ordinary for him to come at night? Yes
Telephone interview with SLED Agent Joe Albiado told him? It’s been a year, I don’t remember what I told him, possible I said that.
Here today, you said when Alex came, he was fidgety but normal? Yes
Not first time you saw him fidgety? It was normal for Alex? Yes
The clothes he was wearing while sitting on bed with his mother – was the bed soiled in any way? Don’t recall, I didn’t touch it
Any blood on his shoes, his clothes, his hair or did he leave any blood in his mom’s bedroom? No.
Interview by SLED on June 16 – you told SLED he’d been there 30-40 minutes? yes
Following up on a call on June 17, remember? You never told SLED in June during interviews Alex came in with blue tarp? Right
Not until September? Right
You initially mention something about Alex coming over with a tarp in September; to an Officer Dingle when he worked a wreck and Crosby had been in accident. Officer Dingle was filling out the incident report and Crosby mentions to him that she was working on the night Alex came over with a blue tarp that was holding something – she says she didn’t tell Dingle it was a rifle. After that conversation, SLED contacted her again and she said Alex was carrying the tarp but did not say there was a rifle.
Crosby testifies she has had two or three interviews with SLED and said it was a blue tarp. Not a rain jacket, no doubt?, Griffin asks. Crosby: No doubt it was a tarp
When Alex came over early that morning, were you in Libby’s room? yes
Can you see comings and goings from the room? No
REDIRECT
Jan 20, 2022, you testified before grand jury how long Alex stayed? 20-30 minutes
Griffin asked about calling your brother? Yes, he’s assistant police chief in Varnville, SC
Had Alex ever been there before that early in the morning? No
The visit at night? Was that unusual? Yes
You told an officer about something Alex was holding? Yes
Smith had and accident and she told the officer working the accident, the conversation came up where she volunteered that Alex was carrying a balled up blue tarp? Yes
All blue? Yes
Defense took a statement from you? Yes. Defense recorded it? Yes.
Meadors asks for the statement and Defense replies it does not have a copy of the statement – judge rules they must provide a copy – defense finds an audio copy of the statement. It will be transcribed while the court recesses for lunch.
After the lunch break, Judge Newman mentioned one of the jurors had expressed concerned about the possible length of the trial and had a personal time limit of three weeks.
The jury returns and the re-direct testimony of Mushelle Smith continues.
Meadors asks Smith if she remembers being interviewed by defense council in October 2022? Yes
And you told the investigator Alex had on some cloth-like shoes? Yes
And the length of time Alex was at Almeda? Do you remember being asked the amount of time Alex was at the house with his mother? Yes
And if it was unusual for Alex to visit that time of night? Yes
Remember saying Alex would not come on your shift? Yes
Because it would be when everyone was going to bed? Yes
And when asked about the amount of time, you said about 20 minutes? Yes
Do you remember Griffin asking about Alex saying he was at the house 30-40 minutes? Yes
Did Alex say to tell anyone who asked that he was there 30-40 minutes? Yes
And that’s the answer you gave investigators in October 2021? Yes
Mr Griffin asked you about a blue tarp. Did he or any of his investigators ask about it when they talked to you? Did they show you something? A picture
A tarp? Did they just say they got if from K-Mart? Yes
Who did you first tell Alex may have been holding something when he arrived at Almeda? Officer Dingle
Then DSLED interviewed you? Yes
So, when defense investigators came in October, they were talking about what you told Dingle? Yes
About the blue shirt? They described it as a shirt? No, not as I can recall
Do you remember them asking you’re positive it was a shirt? And you said it was vinyl? Yes
Mr. Griffin was asking about the vinyl whatever, the investigators asked if there was a gun in it? I can’t recall, I don’t remember
Does that look like the blue vinyl garment Alex was carrying? Yes
Was it bundled up? Yes
Was he wearing it? No
RECROSS
It was clear when you left, you saw the blue tarp laid across Libby’s recliner -- it was a tarp? No doubt in your mind? No doubt
Investigators showed you a picture of a blue rain jacket? Yes
And you never saw the blue rain jacket? No
You ever see this rain jacket before? No
Did Alex have the rain jacket with him when he came to the home a few days after the funeral? No
And if this photo? Can you see this blue thing wadded up? If this was the blue jacket would you change your testimony? Have you ever been in this closet? No
Have you ever seen Alex with this jacket? No
Mr Randolph had been put in the hospital a day after he got out? Yes
It was unusual because Randolph had been put back into the hospital? Right
Christin Moore, SLED special agent assigned to crime scene unit
Moore was on the SLED team during the execution of search warrant at Almeda, looking for a blue tarp-like material and searched entire interior or residence.
On the second floor, in north bedroom inside a closet, SLED agents found a blue tarp.
Moore describes where the tarp was found -- in the bottom of a storage container in the closet -- and that a blue raincoat was found in a coat closet on the second floor.
A photograph of the interior of the coat closet is shown. Agent Moore points out the blue raincoat found balled up, behind a white box in the closet. The raincoat was taken and placed into an evidence bag by Moore.
In another photo, Moore describes the blue raincoat she collected. Moore says it was documented and sent to SLED’s laboratory. Moore testifies there were no guns found at the time of their search.
On Oct, 7, 2021, Moore met with other agents to process and document the raincoat. Stains on the raincoat were documented with photos and scale and tested for blood and came back negative.
CROSS by Griffin
I understand you went to Almeda to execute a search warrant Sept 16, 2021, looking for a blue tarp. Moore: We were advised to look for a blue tarp like material
Did you test the blue tarp? I did not and am unaware of any testing on the blue tarp
You did see the blue raincoat and tested on the raincoat? Yes
You used phenolphthalein to test for presumptive blood on the raincoat? Yes
The blue rain jacket was never tested for presumptive blood? No
Then you used another product? Moore: We used an alternative light source to show any stains that might have been missed
Alternate light source doesn’t tell if its blood or something else? No
Is that the area you tested? Moore: We tested the entire raincoat
That’s a presumptive test? Yes
And it tested negative? That’s correct. I was not involved in further processing
What size is the jacket? I cannot tell you
The size is large? I do not recall the size
The evidence box containing the jacket is opened to check the size of the jacket. There is no tag in the front of the jacket but Moore holds out the oversized jacket so members of the jury can see it.
Did you show a photo of the jacket to Shelly Smith? No
Do you know of any SLED agent that showed a photo to Shelly Smith? No
REDIRECT
The raincoat collected form the closet at Almeda, did it have the tape on the coat? No, it was done during processing
It is rather large for a raincoat and it was bundled up like this? Yes
William McElveen
McElveen lives in Charleston and was a friend of Paul – the two met at Edisto Beach during high school and began to hang out. McElveen said he got to know Paul well and the Murdaughs became like a second family, McElveen went to Moselle.
If he reached out to Paul, would he respond? Usually by phone and text. Paul liked to use his cell phone. Every time there was a road trip, he’d call his friends.
Did McElveen get to know Maggie? Yes, she was really sweet and treated Paul’s friends like they were her kids. McElveen testified Maggie approved of him hanging out with Paul.
His perceptions of Alex? He took everyone in as the dad to everyone in the friend group.
Did you go to Moselle often? Stayed there a lot, about 30-40 times; hanging out, hunting. Stayed at the house and a secondary location -- like the big shed or hangar with the dog kennels and the shed across from the hangar to hang out and talk. Most of the times at Moselle they’d hang at the house, larger groups would go to the shed.
And the dog kennel? Yes
There were two kinds of dogs at the kennels, working and family dogs? Yes. The family dogs would hang around the house mostly, sleeping at the house. The working dogs would stay at the kennels in the shed.
Moselle has two entrances – one was the main had pillar outside that went to the house; second entrance next to cabin next to shed that passes by the kennels. McElveen testified he and his friends more often used second entrance.
For someone leaving the house, or coming back, and you were at the kennels? McElveen said Maggie and Alex, typically they’d check on us, that was normal.
With Paul, did you share your locations with each other? Yes, any point in time you can open your phone and pinpoint where friends are.
Was it common for firearms to be stored at kennels? No, I can’t remember a time where I’ve seen firearms left at the shed.
When was the last time you saw Paul? June 5. We were hanging out with friends and went to bar in Charleston. McElveen testifies he and his friends don’t think we saw him on Sunday and don’t know who Paul was staying with.
McElveen was told about Paul’s death the morning after. He had missed calls during the night. He went to Moselle on June 8 -- to main house to see the family. McElveen testified a good bit of friends and family were there and that he attended the funeral.
CROSS by Griffin
You met with Paul at Edisto with the Columbia group? Yes
And you described him as a loyal friend? Correct
You are close to Murdaugh family? Correct
Was Edisto house one where a lot of folks would congregate? Yes
Spent time with Paul, Buster, Alex, and Maggie? Yes
How would you describe the relationship between Paul and Maggie? Best friends
How would you describe the relationship between Alex and Maggie? Never saw anything negative
They wanted Paul to hang around you? Yes
If you were at Moselle, you wouldn’t leave guns around? No
When you were hunting, you made sure guns were put away properly? Yes
You describe the family dogs and that they stayed at the house? Yes
And there was an electric fence around the property? I don’t know about the fence
Bubba (one of the family dogs) was a handful? Could be
Last time you were at Moselle? 2021? Most likely
Dogs were there? Can’t remember
They went to Moselle the day after? Frank Chapman went with McElveen
Any other friends of Paul? Rogan and Nolan
Alex’s demeanor at the time? Sad and crying.
Did you hug? We hugged
And he was crying? Yes
Did you go to Moselle after funeral? Yes
And Alex was still crying and hugging? Yes
Natasha Moodie
Moody is a consumer resolution associate for Bank of American (BOfA) and appears on behalf of the bank in litigation cases.
She recognizes bank records for accounts, monthly statements, and copies of checks for Alex Murdaugh’s BOfA accounts.
Judge Newman tells the jury testimony will be given regarding Alex Murdaugh’s financial situation and allowed for the limited purpose of the state to prove motive. The financial evidence cannot used to determine the character of Alex Murdaugh or his propensity of Alex Murdaugh to commit crime, only to explain the motive of crime for which he is accused.
What info is on the first of three discs? They are documents for checking accounts ending in 6779; 7991; 7625; credit card statement for card ending in 9559; credit card statements for card ending in 8591
Information is entered into evidence without questioning or objection.
Jamie Hall, former SLED technician
Hall is currently an evidence custodian at West Columbia Police Department – she was a forensic technician in trace evidence lab at SLED in 2021. She prepared gunshot residue (GSR) kits for testing of subjects in the field.
Once GSR kits come into the lab, Hall makes sure the kit has maintained a chain of evidence, collected during the six-hour time limit of collection window on a human. Evidence sheets at the scene must have estimated time of shooting and time of collection.
Hall explains her process of looking for possible gin shot residue: When you process, you look at inventory worksheet, confirming manufacturer of the kit and lot number of kit, confirming from who the kit was taken from and the time, the kit's unique lab number and item number for control purposes. GSR kits are subject to chain of custody documentation.
For instance: Colleton County Sheriff's Deputy Varnadoe collected GSR from Alex Murdaugh on June 7, 2021. On the evidence sheet, the suspected time of the shooting was listed as 10 p.m., GSR kit was listed as taken at 11:15 p.m. The GSR kit arrived in the SLED lab on June 8, 2021.
To best of Hall’s knowledge, sheet is correct.
Hall is handed a box containing evidence envelopes. One of those envelopes has the GSR kits for one pair of green cargo shorts and one white t-shirt, and the worksheets generated by Hall when she tests inanimate objects (shirt and pants).
Hall testifies she starts by making sure the work surface is clean before evidence is placed on parchment paper to make sure there is nothing contaminating the items. Items are photographed and labeled, and items are sampled (using particle lifts) for GSR. Anything found out of the ordinary is put in the description area of the worksheet.
On the shirt, the area closest to potential discharge of a firearm is shoulder and chest area. The Hanes Beefy T shirt has odor of laundry detergent and a small red spot. She noted the smell because clothing evidence coming into the lab usually has a musty aroma and this one smelled as if it were freshly washed. GSR samples on the clothing were taken June 8, 2021.
The worksheet from a seatbelt from a Suburban (Alex’s vehicle) notes she collected samples from various areas along the seatbelt – the top, sides, and bottom of the buckle, 3 areas of the belt, and the latch plate – using particle lift tape (adhesive tape that collects whatever is on the object). GSR samples on the seatbelt were taken Sept. 1, 2021
The pants/cargo shorts worksheet notes samples taken from right groin and left groin because that would be standard practice of spots closest to suspected firearm discharge.
For shoes, samples were taken from front of shoe – where the laces would be -- and the front toe, working down the sides. Hall noted the shoes were wet with yard debris present, but did not note any blood on the shoes’ top or bottom. GSR samples on the shoes and shorts were June 8, 2021
Other items for Hall to process included a blue rain jacket/poncho, where samples were taken on Oct. 5, 2021.
The particle lift for the rain jacket was considered to be in another agent’s custody (Megan Fletcher) while Hall conducted the particle lift on the entire jacket and hood, inside and out. Particle lifts are done in a controlled environment with technicians wearing gloves and masks.
CROSS by Griffin
Griffin asks, if you are conducting DNA testing, you wear masks, you were wearing a mask? Yes. It was understood the items might be subject for DNA testes later.
As stated earlier, the lab area is cleaned, and parchment paper laid out on the table. Garments are laid out on the parchment paper and she only tested the chest and sleeve area of a shirt to look for gunshot residue.
Griffin asks, do you expect to find residue on the shoulder of a garment? Yes
And on seat belt assembly? Yes
On the shirt, shorts, and shoes? Yes
And the sample from Agent Varnadoe, to check. Varnadoe would have taken the sample? Yes
And those are samples taken for Alex Murdaugh’s hands? Yes
Griffin asks if Hall knows you can get GSR on you by simply picking up a firearm? Hall testifies she can only attest to what she did in testing.
He asks: the worksheet in evidence on the Hanes t-shirt on right sleeve/chest, left sleeve/chest notes small red brown stains were observed? Did you test the red dots? I cannot attest at to what happened after I tested the shirt.
When you got the shirt, was it in a bag by itself? Yes, I made note it was a single item in a brown paper bag. The particle lift use one vial per area listed. If more than once vial is used, each vial has its own listing on the worksheet.
Do you know results of your particle lifting? No
Did you finish the test and send it up to the next technician? Yes
Hall is not involved in DNA processing.
There is no redirect, so Judge Newman concludes the trial for the day. Court will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
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