Former South Carolina lawyer Murdaugh takes stand in double murder trial

Feb 23 (Reuters) – Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina lawyer charged with murdering his spouse and son, on Thursday admitted to mendacity to investigators about his whereabouts on the night time of the killings however denied any involvement of their deaths.

In dramatic testimony, Murdaugh advised the jury that he didn’t shoot his spouse, Maggie, 52, and 22-year-old Paul, the youthful of their two sons, who have been each gunned down close to canine kennels on the household’s property on June 7, 2021.

“I didn’t shoot my spouse or my son anytime, ever,” Murdaugh stated from the stand.

Murdaugh, the scion of an influential South Carolina authorized household, was indicted by a grand jury in July on two counts of homicide and two counts of possession of a weapon in reference to the shootings. He pleaded not responsible.

Prosecutors have launched cellphone audio proof exhibiting Murdaugh was on the kennels proper earlier than his spouse and son have been fatally shot at shut vary, contradicting what he had advised investigators and others within the wake of the incident.

Murdaugh stated he was affected by paranoia tied to a drug habit and didn’t belief the police.

“On June 7, I wasn’t pondering clearly. I don’t suppose I used to be able to cause and I lied about being down there. And I am so sorry that I did,” Murdaugh testified.

Murdaugh testified that he left the kennels after eradicating a hen from the mouth of Bubba, one in all their canines. He stated he returned to the household house after which drove to go to his mom, unaware that Maggie and Paul had been killed.

Rocking forwards and backwards and with tears working down his face, Murdaugh stated he returned to the kennels and located his spouse and son immobile and disfigured.

“I noticed what y’all have seen footage of,” Murdaugh stated, describing Paul’s situation in graphic element. “I may see his mind laying on the sidewalk. I did not know what to do.”

Prosecutors have stated Murdaugh killed his spouse and youngster to generate sympathy and distract from an array of economic crimes for which he’s additionally dealing with prison prices, an alleged motive that Murdaugh’s legal professionals have argued doesn’t make sense.

Reporting by Nathan Layne
Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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