WALTERBORO, S.C. — The Alex Murdaugh double murder trial continues Friday with more testimony and continued debate over whether the jury will even be allowed to hear from certain witnesses.
Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife, Maggie, and adult son, Paul, at the family's 1,700 acre estate in 2021. Murdaugh is a former prominent attorney who's also accused of taking millions of dollars from clients and the law firm where he worked.
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.
Thursday Recap of Alex Murdaugh Trial
On Thursday, Feb. 2, the court heard testimony from the following witnesses in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial: Heidi Galore, a law operations lead for Snapchat social media app; Dylan Hightower from the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office; and SLED Agent Katie McCallister.
Galore was on the stand to give the court a basic overview of the social media app that is used to send and receive short videos and messages. One of last things Paul Murdaugh did before his death was to create a short video of a friend’s dog that was being kept at the kennels on the Murdaugh family’s Moselle property. Paul’s friend Rogan Gibson testified on Wednesday he never received the video on the evening of June 7, 2021, but it was recovered from Paul’s iPhone after a data extraction was conducted by law enforcement. On the video, timestamped 8:44 p.m., Gibson testified he distinctly heard the voices of Paul, Maggie, and Alex Murdaugh. This is significant because Alex had said he was never in the area when Paul and Maggie were gunned down.
Hightower was the investigator from the Solicitor’s Office that actually found Maggie’s missing iPhone on June 8, the day after the murders. The described how he used the Find My iPhone app to locate the phone off the side of the road outside of the Moselle property.
McCallister was the SLED agent that took the phone into evidentiary custody and was assigned to search the residence at Moselle. It was her testimony that she was accompanied by Alex’s attorney Lee Cope and John Marvin Murdaugh while searching the house for evidence. McCallister testifies that although guns and ammunition were collected, she did not see evidence of bloody clothes in any of the bedrooms or baths in the house.
Judge Clifton Newman also heard in camera arguments from both sides – with the jury out of the room -- about the admission of evidence as it pertains to Alex’s motive to murder Paul and Maggie. It is the State’s position that Alex was so afraid his decades-long history of financial misdeeds would be uncovered, and that he was facing a civil suit in the death of Mallory Beach, that he panicked and killed his wife and youngest son to divert attention.
On Thursday afternoon, Newman heard testimony from Jeanne Seckinger, a partner in PMPED, Murdaugh’s former law firm. She was one of the attorneys that uncovered Murdaugh’s embezzlement of funds from the law firm
James Wilson, a personal injury lawyer and former friend of Alex Murdaugh. Wilson had worked a case with Alex Murdaugh, winning a combined verdict in the sum of $5.5 million for an injured man and his wife. The attorney’s fees and recovered costs in the case were to be split 50/50, with Wilson disbursing the checks. After writing the initial check Alex, Alex asked him to re-write his checks so that he might create an annuity. Alex then later contacted Wilson saying he was unable to structure the fees and wanted Wilson to write more checks to his firm and run the money through Wilson’s trust account. Of the $792,000 of money dispensed, Alex only returned $600,000. Wilson put up the remaining $192,000 and wrote the checks. Wilson later was later contacted by Lee Cope, an attorney in Murdaugh’s firm that the money was missing and that Alex had stolen it.
Alex Murdaugh trial latest updates
Friday began with in camera testimony in front of Judge Clifton Newman, without the jury present. The State wants to present numerous witnesses testifying about Alex Murdaugh’s financial situation – his embezzlement of funds from his law partners and clients, and the impending civil case against him in the Mallory Beach boat case – and how that may have led him to murder Paul and Maggie. The judge was listening to potential witness testimony during the morning session to determine if that testimony would be presented to the jury for consideration.
IN CAMERA: Jan Malinowski, president and CEO of Palmetto State Bank (PSB), becoming CEO in August 2021, replacing Russell Laffitte.
Malinowski was in charge of PSB branches in Beaufort (Burton and Lady’s Island). PSB branches in Hampton County were covered by Russell and Charlie Laffitte (Russell’s father). The board of directors at PSB run day to day at the bank and defer other operations to local officers. Malinowski testifies there is a threshold to approving loans – two executives could approve up to about $1 million, over that amount the loan would need executive committee approval.
PSB Executive committee meets 2nd Tuesday of the month, regular board meets 3rd Tuesday
Malinowski was on the executive committee in Aug. 12, 2021, when a relationship between Alex Murdaugh and PSB was discussed during an executive committee meeting. The discussion was recorded in the minutes of that meeting.
Malinowski identifies the minutes and the reference to a memo of the total indebtedness Alex had at that time -- $4.2 million.
A copy of minutes to board meeting July 20, 2021, show no discussion on Alex’s owing $725,000 to PSB.
Prior to Aug. 12 -- on Aug. 9 -- Morris Laffitte asked for a full accounting of Alex’s relationship with the bank, sparking a lot of activity in the bank. Members of executive committee discuss a deposit of $400,000 was made to Murdaugh’s account by Russell Laffitte, to clear an overdraft in Alex’s account. Russell’s action came after Morris’ call for accounting.
Malinowski testifies there was action to create an application to go through the normal loan process at PSB for the $400K. He then identifies a copy of a deposit checking account statement in the name Alex Murdaugh showing an overdraft of $347,784. Russell Laffitte deposited the $400,000 to clear the overdraft. There is also a transfer of $20,000 to a Murdaugh checking account.
On Aug. 17, 2021, PSB board meeting minutes reflect discussion of loans to Murdaugh. There is mention of Alex’s intention of selling the farm. And it is mentioned that Alex owed loans in excess of $3 million
PSB had already charged off $3m in loans to Murdaugh, Mainowski testifies, but Murdaugh still had to pay off the loans. The bank would expect payment on the loans from any sell or real property.
Malinowski was aware of a $750,000 loan to Murdaugh. The loan had been referenced in the executive committee meeting the week before. But, there was no loan paperwork completed or filed at that time, and that loan was not the only disbursement made to Murdaugh.
A wire-request dated July 15, 2021, indicates PSB wires $350,000 to South State Bank, to be deposited with the Wilson Law Group with instructions listing contact as Chris Wilson at Wilson Law Group. No loan documentation or application paperwork filed for this transfer at PSB. The money was to benefit Alex Murdaugh as the sender information denotes PSB LNOS (Loans not on system) as the borrower on the loan. Malinowski testifies LNOS should have been listed as Alex Murdaugh, but no paperwork had been filed at PSB.
Malinowski identifies a copy of a of cashier’s check for $400,000 made out to Alex, and another for $750K plus one share of Green Swamp stock
Checking deposit of $400,000 credited to Alex on August 9, 2021; and a debit to LNOS of $400,000 on August 9, 2021.
Promissory note $750,750 on July 15, 2021, signed by Alex Murdaugh, and dated July 15, 2021, the same day as money transferred to Wilson. The sequential loan number on the note could only have been generated after the August meetings, according to Malinowski, because how the sequential loan numbers are generated in the PSB system. A “business purpose statement” accompanying the loan dated July 15, 2021, states reason for the loan as “business expenses.”
Reference to board minutes 8/17/2021 discussion about that loan at the meeting and at executive committee meeting earlier mentions collateral for mortgage on Edisto property and Green Swamp stock. The Edisto property was solely in Maggie’s name at that time, and the stock had already been collateralized in another loan.
Prior to June 2021, an appraisal had been requested on the Edisto property but not for the $750K loan at PSB.
The appraisal requested on 4/22/2021 was for the refinance of Edisto mortgage with balance of $250,000, the balanced loan had matured and PSB needed to renew the note.
A memo summarizes PSB’s relationship with Murdaugh and lists Alex Murdaugh’s multiple debt accounts, including a charged off loan balance of $362,900 for Red Beard property; outstanding loans by Alex and co-loans with father; $990,064 owed on $1 million credit limit; bank statements showing Alex Murdaugh’s farm account with a negative -$2,458> balance; a regular account with $2185.23; a health saving account with $7540.61; another Alex Murdaugh account with a balance of $62K; an interest checking account for Maggie and Alex with a balance $3,900.04 -- all balances were as of June 7, 2021.
Malinowski was asked if it had come out Alex was stealing from clients, would PSC have continued loaning money to him? No
CROSS
Jim Griffin asks if Malinowski was overdrawn at PSB on June 7, 2021? He answers, one account was overdrawn.
Had Alex ever been denied loan or line of credit before 2021? No
In July 2021, a loan to Alex was approved by three members of PSB’s board of directors, was it not? Griffin continues before Malinowski answers, it was Alex’s intention to sell the farm and PSB has mortgages on that property super-ceding the transfer of property to Maggie’s name. (The farm is Moselle.)Malinowski responds, the $750K loan did not seem to be approved by executive committee. Russell Laffitte said he, Charlie Laffitte and Charlie Henderson approved the loan.
Griffin asks Malinowski if he was aware Alex was paying on loans PSB had written off? Yes
Did Alex ever go into default? Yes, on Red Beard and Zero United. He periodically made payments on those loans
On the day Maggie was murdered, were you aware she was to meet PSB appraiser on June 8? No sir. The Moselle property in Maggie’s name in June 2021
Wasn’t Edisto property titled jointly in Alex and Magige’s names? Malinowski responds, I believe Edisto was solely in Maggie’s name at the time of her death, according to Colleton County deed records.
Was Alex Murdaugh’s relationship with PSB ever flagged by FDIC audit? Not to my knowledge
ON REDIRECT
The memo from the executive committee listed $750K for the remodel of the Edisto house, no mention of $350K paid to Wilson or $400K to Alex Murdaugh’s account to cover negative balances? No
Meadors states that is perhaps the most generous overdraft policy ever seen? Quite possibly, says Malinowski
Malinowski is asked if Alex Murdaugh tried to sell Red Beard and Zero United properties, would he have to pay the amounts listed by the bank or amounts much higher? Malinowski says, higher because of accumulated interest on the written off loan and late fees. An arrangement would have to be reached with the bank before a sale.
Malinowski confirms the appraisal of Edisto with Maggie, scheduled for June 8, 2021, was to renew the loan, not remodel the house.
If it came out that Alex had been discovered diverting fees from law firm, was forced to resign, and was diverting fees from clients, PSB would not continue to loan to him? Malinowski says no.
Russell Laffitte was terminated after all this, and Malinowski became president and CEO of PSB
Michael Tony Satterfield
Satterfield is the son of Gloria Satterfield, Murdaugh’s housekeeper who died on Feb. 26, 2018.
Tony said Gloria worked for AM over 20 years, housekeeping, babysitting, whatever was needed. She fell and hit her head at Moselle and lived for a few weeks before passing. She was never able to tell Tony what happened that day.
Satterfield testifies Alex Murdaugh told him he would go after his insurance money to get Gloria’s medical bills paid. A lawsuit was filed, then Alex claimed conflict of interest and named Corey Fleming as counsel on the case.
Satterfield testified he still thought Alex was his attorney in the case.
He testified Alex Murdaugh suggested Chad Westendorff be brought in as Satterfield’s PR person during litigation and Toney said he met with Westendorff once.
Satterfield never knew of Alex Murdaugh’s umbrella insurance policy of $5M
He recognizes a coversheet he sent to Alex about Gloria’s bills. Satterfield testifies Alex told him to forward bills to Murdaugh’s office and he’d determine if anything needed to be done.
Satterfield would ask Alex every few months about his mother’s case. Satterfield said Murdaugh would tell him it was hard but they were making process and hoping he and his brother would get some money, quoting $100K apiece
Family members told Satterfield about media coverage reporting there was a settlement in the case so Tony again reached out to Alex.
Satterfield testified Alex said he was still workning on settlement (Murdaugh, record show, had already been paid $3.8M under his umbrella policy and another $505K).
ON CROSS
Do you remember where the family member saw settlement information? Saterfield answers, I don’t remember
You called Alex on his cell phone? Yes. We talked two or three times around the time Paul and Maggie were murdered.
Carson Burney
Burney works as a forensic accountant for SC Attorney General’s Office. He reviews documents – bank statements, loan docs, wire transfers, credit card info – of Alex Murdaugh and traces the funds to try and determine where the money was ultimately distributed.
Burney used first-in-first out method to trace funds. First money into an account and first money out of an account
Burney identifies printout of tracing of funds $792K on Ferris case. There are checks for $192K; $375K, and $425K in April 2021 that goes to Alex Murdaugh from The Wilson Law Group.
Burney’s analysis shows a general flow of funds from Alex’s Forge account via check transfer Alex’s personal account at Bank of America (BOfA).
The tracing summary of the Satterfield settlement, $403,500 was in deposited in Alex’s Forge account, then payments of $12,500 were withdrawn twice, and a check for $3970.70 went to the Murdaugh PSB account, then from there $3870.29 as payment to loans at PSB. Loan payments were made for Red Beard ($47K), Zero United ($50K), Moselle ($65,238.92), and on a GMC vehicle ($7599.30). And another $100K on Moselle.
Tracing summary of $2.9M on May15, 2019, deposited in Alex’ Forge account showed checks drawn funded Alex’s farm account ($147,247); checking acct ($1,429,753); Murdaugh’s checking account at PSB ($13K); BOFA personal checking account ($1,284,049.89); and payments made to ten variations of the name of Curtis Edward Smith (CE Smith, C Eddie Smith, C Edward Smith, etc.) ranging from $6,400 to $132,087; a credit card payment ($7,570); and a$335K check to Randy Murdaugh.
Burney recognizes documents tracing Alex Murdaugh’s Forge accounts and the tractor trailer settlement (with Wilson Law Firm) at PSB and BOA and Alex’ personal checks
NO CROSS of this witness. This was the last in camera witness. After a short break, the jury was brought into the courtroom and the State called its first witness.
Thomas Edward Darnell, SLED
SLED Agent Darnell has been a fingerprint examiner in South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s forensics crime lab for 30 years.
Prosecutor Savanna Goude asks Darnell about fingerprint evidence in general. He explains most fingerprint evidence is invisible and must be enhanced through different techniques to make prints visible. One method is Super-Glue fuming on a non-porous surface (gun, can, etc.) where glue is heated to create fumes that attach to the surface of the object, revealing any prints on that surface. Photographs can be taken of the surface and enhanced to see the prints for comparison or matching.
Darnell received 300 Blackout casings to process, and no fingerprint evidence was observed. He says it’s not unusual for not a lot of prints develop on cartridge cases, because cases are exposed to heart and friction and prints are fragile.
Darnell found no prints on shells from shotguns taken into evidence from Moselle and testified he didn’t expect to find prints on the shells. He testifies he has developed partial prints before, but he has never identified a print taken from a shell.
He testifies no fingerprints were on the 12-gauge Benelli shotgun retrieved from Moselle on June 7; Darnell did swabs on the trigger, rear stock, front stock, and ejection lever on the shotgun. Typically involving guns, he says, the trigger would be the place to try and find a print or DNA evidence.
Darnell also tested Paul’s cell phone for prints and DNA evidence. He testifies there was only a small amount of fingerprint evidence on the phone (classified as of “no value” because there was not enough clarity).
Darnell failed to find any usable prints on three other guns tested from the Moselle property. Swabs were collected on the guns for DNA evidence.
He testified a 30-round magazine of 300 Blackout cartridges processed for fingerprints came up as “no value for comparison.” The cartridges were processed individually.
ON CROSS
Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian asks Darnell if all the items were processed in the lab? Yes
3 shotguns? Yes
Were the guns loaded? Darnell responds he cannot recall. When a weapon comes in, he says, it is typically unloaded prior to coming to the lab. He only processed what came into the lab on June 9, 2021.
Harpootlian: Were you ever asked to process the ejected cartridges? Yes. But heat, friction, weather could affect whether a fingerprint is found on a spent shell
No prints on spent brass shell casings? No. Latent prints are mostly moisture and doesn’t take much to wipe the print off.
You do find prints, don’t you? I’ve found prints
Ever go to the scene (at Moselle)? No, not called out
The forensics folks (at Moselle), to your knowledge, did they throw down powder or anything else? Darnell says he can’t say, he wasn’t there.
Harpootlian asks, Would my hand leave a fingerprint on this brass doorknob? Darnell responds, Maybe. It would depend on how long ago did you touch it, if you were sweating/perspiring or if anyone touched it behind you. Darnell said he was not at the scene but would have checked doorknobs and such.
Harpootlian asks Darnell if he would want to do a meticulous examination – not just a look over – and expect to see notes that (the crime scene unit) at least looked at the scene; you would also expect to see images of any surface that could have come into contact with a perpetrator in the notes of a crime scene investigator? There should be something to explain what was done. Darnell answers he does not know who was at Moselle, he as not, and no one from latent print unit was at the scene (they don’t normally go)
Darnell explains “No value for comparison” in a report means a print may have been found but not enough information is there to compare/identify the print. Wind, rain, and elements can effect print retrieval.
Harpootlian: “No evidence observed” means no trace of prints on the shotguns Murdaugh was seen holding at the scene that night?
Darnell: Prints are not always left on something you touch. There are variables.
REDIRECT
In your experience, are crime scene personnel trained to look for fingerprints at a scene? Yes
Crime scene dept is trained to process items at the scene.
No bloody prints submitted in this case.
Blake Johnson, SLED
SLED Agent Johnson is in Lowcountry crime investigative unit. He collected buckle (DNA) swabs from Claude CB Rowe and Connor Cook at Moselle on June 7, 2021.
NO QUESTIONS, NO CROSS
Lawrence Wiggins, Chief of Allendale of Police.
Former SLED agent Wiggins worked out of Walterboro office and collected buckle swabs from Roger Davis and Anthony Cooke at Moselle on June 7, 2021.
Harpootlian concedes the admittance into evidence of the DNA swabs to speed up the process.
NO QUESTIONS, NO CROSS
Chandler Horney, SLED
SLED Agent Horney is a special agent with the vice unit that collected buckle swabs from Morgan Dowdy and Mark Altman
Jomar Albayalde, SLED
SLED Agent Albayalde collected buckle swabs from Randy Murdaugh, Pablito Torres, and Allen Gonzales (Torres’ son)
Paul Greer, SLED
SLED Agent Greer is a firearms examiner in SLED’s forensics laboratory. The SLED lab is accredited under ANAB and is inspected and audited every four years to ensure the lab meets international standards and is internally audited every year.
Generally, Greer would examine spent ammunition to determine the firearm it was fired from. He is familiar with the shotgun and rifle used in this case.
Greer goes into an explanation of the basic operation and construction of a shotgun – a long gun with a smooth bore (inside the barrel), that would leave no rifling marks and uses individual cartridge ammunition. Rifling causes the spiraling motion of a bullet as it travels down the barrel that allows for the bullet's straight trajectory out of the barrel. Shotguns have no rifling and bullets are travelling based on the combustion of the gun. Shot shells have multiple pellets comprising the shot in the shell – bird shot, buck shot pellets -- and cloth wadding compresses the pellets and holds them together in the shot cartridge until the cartridge is hit by the firing pin, releasing the pellets down the length of the barrel.
Common gauges of shotgun shells are 12-gauge, 20-gauge, and 140-bore; and shells can be loaded with different types of shot -- bird shot (for smaller animals such as birds), buck shot (for hunting larger animal such as deer), or a single slug.
Greer then explains the AR-platform. It is a modular platform for a semi-automatic rifles, commonly using 223 Remington or 556 caliber cartridges. The rifle at Moselle used 300 Blackout caliber ammunition. He shows unfired 223/556 and 300 cartridges for comparison. The 300-caliber cartridge is much larger and has a grain weight that varies by manufacturer.
Generally, when items are submitted to SLED labs, Greer testifies, he does not know too much about the case. In this case, Greer received a significant number of items to exam and identify, including:
- five fired 300 Blackout cartridge casings, head stamped SNB 300 Blackout, found near Maggie's body
- a single fired Federal 00 3-inch Magnum shot, found in or around the storage room kennels
- a single fired Winchester drylock-2, 3-inch shot shell, found in or around the storage room kennels
- a single camouflage-patterned Super Black Eagle 12-gauge Benelli shotgun with sling and one unfired 12-gauge Federal shell and one unfired 16-gauge shell
- a fired bullet, minus its cartridge casing, found near a tire impression
- 24 birdshot pellets collected from the dog food storage room at Moselle
- 1 fired bullet retrieved from bedding in the doghouse
- 1 fired bullet fragment and 3 fired bullet shells noted as defect in ground
- 1 piece of lead from hair on dress
- 48 birdshot pellets from the head and shoulder of Paul Murdaugh and a piece of plastic from the head and shoulder of Paul
- 3 fired bullet fragments and 7 pieces of lead from Maggie’s body at autopsy
- 1 combination wad from left side of Paul at autopsy
- 1 birdshot wadding found in Paul’s clothing
- 1 unloaded Browning Auto 5 semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun
- 1 unloaded (undescribed) 12-gauge shotgun
- 1 unloaded (undescribed) 12-gauge shotgun
- 1 unloaded 300 Blackout rifle
- 1 package containing a magazine and 26 unfired 300-caliber Blackout cartridges
- 1 envelope containing four 12-gauge Federal shot shells marked Federal Premium 00 buck 3-inch cartridge retrieved from red bin on workshop bench
- 1 envelope containing four 12-gauge Winchester shot shells marked Drylock 3-inch Number 2
- 1 box for ammunition for 300 Blackout caliber manufactured by SNB
- 1 envelope containing fired 300 Blackout cartridges
- 1 envelope containing 300 caliber cartridge cases and 12-gauge shotgun shells
- 1 envelope containing 2 swabs of reddish-brown debris taken from the 12-gauge Benelli shotgun. Greer took the swabs after noting two areas of discoloration on the gun.
- 1 envelope containing unfired 12-gauge shot shell that came with the Benelli gun
Greer records evidence and trace materials coming into the lab through photography and on paper documents. Bullets will be checked and documented for rifling, weight, and same class characteristics (scratches, striations, defects, etc.). Firearms are test-fired with test specimens to compare with ammunition known to have been fired from the firearm to verify firearm identification. Tests are blind tested by peers for another layer of verification.
Looking at evidence under a microscope, looking at firing pins and breach face marks, ejector marks, extractor marks, and chamber marks to be able to verify the relationship between gun and ammunition.
Greer is asked to go over his results.
Shot shells compared to each other, Greer concluded, the Federal and Winchester 12-gauge shots were fired by the same weapon.
The unfired 12-gauge shot shell that came in with the camouflaged Benelli shot gun was the shot Greer used to test fire the Benelli shot gun
12-gauge Federal shot shell consistent in construction and headstamp information with the shell accompanying the Benelli
A Mossberg pump action shotgun collected at the scene did not fire the 12-gauge shots. The Benelli super black eagle gun came in with unfired 12- and 16-gauge shots. The results of the camouflaged Benelli were inconclusive.
Testing of the 300 Blackout rounds – spent and unfired – resulted in a determination that rounds recovered from the scene were fired by the 300 Blackout rifle. Greer said he was able to test fire the 300 Blackout even though there was a malfunction in the magazine loading ammunition during the test. Extraction and mechanism marks show the ammunition had been loaded into and ejected from the 300 rifle at some point in time.
An envelope containing fired 300-cartridge casings found near the body of Maggie Murdaugh. A second envelope holds spent 300 casing collected from around the door of the gun room at the house at Moselle. Greer, referencing his notes, testifies the casings collected near the door of the gun room and the casings collected near Maggie’s body were fired from the same gun.
Other 300 ammunition collected from the shooting range at the Moselle property also tested to match those at the crime scene and around the gun room door.
A 300 fired bullet collected near an ATV tire and a 300 fired bullet found in the doghouse at the Moselle crime scene match the grain weight (147grains) on a box of 300 ammunition found at the house.
Greer then identifies four (4) 12-gauge Federal Premium 00 buck 3-inch magnum shotgun shells all from the same manufacturer.
One fired 12-gauge shell collected from the doghouse, and one unfired 12-gauge shell that came in with the camouflaged Benelli super black eagle 12-gauge shotgun, originated from the same manufacturer.
Four (4) Winchester 12-gauge shot Drylock 3-inch number 2, three were recovered estate box on bookshelf in gun room and one from the nightstand in Paul’s room.
A fired Winchester 12-gauge Drylock 3-inch shell collected from the feed room is consistent in manufacture with the unfired shells collected.
ON CROSS
Defense attorney Jim Griffin asks Greer if he is here to tell the jury if any of the weapons collected were the ones that killed Maggie and Paul.
Greer responded, based on evidence, the received projectiles were consistent with the guns. The results on the comparison and test fire were inconclusive.
He responds the shotgun test were inconclusive, it is possible that was the gun used, but he cannot definitely say it was
Greer says was not on the scene and he’s basing his results on his testing in the lab.
Griffin asks Greer to identify a document. Greer responds the document is a copy of two pages from his case file.
Based on cartridge casings, Griffin asks if Greer is unable to conclude the 300 rifle was the gun that shot Maggie.
Greer responds the 300's automatic loading mechanism malfunctioned when test fired it, but he was able to complete his tests. He had to manually load the next cartridge in rather than the gun automatically loading.
As to the test-fired projectiles compared to those at the murder scene, Greer concluded some were consistent with those found at the scene, some had no marks of value, some were damaged. Overall tests were inconclusive on the 300 due to damage the bullets sustained and insufficient markings on the test bullets
Griffin asks Greer if it would have been helpful if crime scene investigators dug out bullets from the firing range berm? Possible but not necessary
On the 300 --- from the cartridges collected, Griffin asks Greer if he was able to conclude they were fired by the 300 in evidence. Yes, to some of the casings collected near the back door to the gun room.
One spent cartridge at the back door at Moselle, and five at the crime scene -- as well cartridges from the firing range -- were loaded into and ejected from the 300 at some time, Greer testifies.
In other words, Griffin asks, the firing pin markings on spent cartridges did not match up? Unable to determine, results inconclusive, Greer responds.
Griffin: You conclude it is inconclusive the 300 fired the bullets that killed Maggie? Griffin: That is correct
Greer explains, based on evidence received, he was able to conclude there were similar markings on the shell casings near Maggie’s body that were loaded into and ejected from the same firearm at some time, but the primary area where the firing pin markings are is inconclusive.
Griffin: Are breach marks and firing pin makers more reliable rifling, extractor and ejectors? Greer: Not necessarily
Griffin: Is your opinion based on your presumption that every 300 in the world manufactured anywhere, that each one, when they cycle a bullet through... will produce a unique set of tool marks? It is Greer’s opinion the bullets cycled through the same gun.
Griffin: Is there any way to determine when the ammunition was loaded into and ejected in the 300? Greer: No I cannot
Moving to the shotgun, Griffin asks: You were shown items that were taken -- unfired shot shells (12-gauge). Take a look and tell me when they were taken into evidence in this case. Greer says there is a date of September 9, 2021, on the evidence envelope.
Griffin says: you understand that was three months after the murder and they came from different locations on the property? Greer: Yes
Griffin: You don’t know if the property was open to Alex Murdaugh during that three months, and he could go out and remove all the shotgun shells on the property? Greer: I know nothing about the scene and how it was maintained.
Griffin asks about Greer’s report on the shotgun pellets. Greer uses a standard worksheet to document the items (black shell found in feed shed where Paul was murdered). Drylock 3-inch #2 is noted (#2 refers to the size of the pellets loaded in the cartridge).
The #2 pellets given to Greer to analyze were steel pellets.
Greer weighed the grains in the shotgun shells and the 300 Blackout ammunition (one bullet weighed 147 grains). Griffin asked, and Greer responded, he is not familiar with subsonic and supersonic weights of 300 ammunition but not surprised the bullets have different weights.
The camouflaged rifle had a 12-gauge shell and a 12-gauge Longbeard XR shell.
Griffin: Are you aware the gun Alex had that night when SLED arrived was loaded with a 12- and a 16-gauge shell? Greer: Yes
Griffin: The review process at SLED for tool markings: You write a report and someone else looks at it and compares an independent report or looks at your reports and makes conclusion based on the report? Greer: Reads and makes their own conclusion.
Greer says he’s looking at tool marks under high magnification to make identification, noting class characteristics – caliber, grooves, twists, etc. – then Greer makes identification based on marks seen under the microscope compared to known examples. You want to see sufficient agreement with markings to make conclusion. Through studies, real work experience. You take the entire surface area and the totality of the markings help determine identification.
Griffin: Hasn’t firearm ID come under criticism? Critical because it is based on opinion rather than objective? Greer is aware of criticism
Griffin: You agree your chosen field is part art as well as science? Griffin: We use lighting to look at items under the microscope and it takes knowledge to move lights to see details.
Griffin: Will you agree -- under oath -- it is part art? Greer: There is some art to it and that is lighting that makes striations. The field is not art, its applied science.
Griffin: You first examined the shotgun Alex had on June 10, 2021. Greer: I received the 300 Blackout on June 10, 2021, and submitted report to SLED on June 10. Greer was unaware what SLED was doing in the field.
Had Greer ever received projectiles from the shooting area at Moselle? Not to his knowledge
Griffin: When he got the shotgun, did you know if it had been swabbed? Will a shotgun recently fired leaved residue? Did you know Worley swabbed the barrel of the shotgun?
Greer testified he noticed recent fouling in the shotgun barrel, and fouling in the 300 rifle barrel.
Griffin asks is it Greer's opinion the 300 ammunition was loaded and extracted and ejected in the 300 at some point. Greer said that is his opinion and he does not know what night be in another’s report.
REDIRECT
Greer is asked to look at a copy of his report entered into evidence and he identifies it as a complete copy.
When asked about the history of firearm identification, Greer responds firearm identification has been around since the 1900s -- looking at evidence microscopically -- and that processes change over time.
Greer is asked what consecutive barrel study is. He explains it is a way of looking at markings on bullets. Consecutively manufactured study highlights carryover markings made by consecutively manufactured items. Greer testifies he can determine ammunition and firearm identity on consecutively manufactured items.
Greer is asked to explain a determination of "inconclusive." When he says inconclusive, Greer says he means it is possible ammunition was fired by a certain gun, but it is also possible the bullet was not fired by that gun.
As far as firearm identification being an applied science Greer says the profession can be like physicians who go to school but also need on the job training to expand knowledge.
Asked again about the Blackout rifle and shell casings, Greer says, the 300 shells around Maggie’s body and the shells near the side entrance door to the gun room, and from various areas from the field – he has determined the items had all been loaded into, extracted, and ejected into the same firearm at some time.
