- In the SLED interview, Mordo appears to say “It’s too bad, I did it too badly, when I talk about the son, Paul.
- In a follow-up SLED interview, Murdaux told police that the last time he saw the victims was when they had dinner; But the state says it has cell phone video to prove otherwise.
- Cross-examination of SLED operator Jeff Croft is expected to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The video at the top of the story will stream live or replay when you’ve finished the day’s actions.
Day six of the Alex Mordeau murder trial concluded with more testimony from Jeff Croft, SLED Special Agent, about 300 Blackout rounds and 12 caliber rifle shells found elsewhere on the Moselle estate, an AR-15 made specifically for Mordeau, and video footage from SLED An interview with Murdau appears to contain some questionable statements from the suspect.
During the afternoon session, Croft testified that other areas of the Moselle, including a shooting shed and a pond, were filled with 300 blackout casings and 12-gauge shotgun shells like the types used to kill Maggie and Paul. The prosecution ran camera footage of Croft and other SLED customers collecting these cartridges.
The state also played video footage of Murdue during a follow-up interview with SLED on June 10, 2021 — the second time Murdue had spoken to state police after the killings. The interview took place in a car at a hunting lodge owned by his brother, John Marvin Murdaugh.
After chatting with the officers, Murdo relays his memories of the timeline of events on the day of the murder. During the video playback, SC lead prosecutor Creighton Waters pauses and repeats some key information to the jury, or asks Croft to clarify or repeat certain parts of Murdo’s statements to the jury.
In the video, as Murdaugh describes his final moments with Paul, as he drives around the building, he breaks down and cries, as SLED agents comfort him and give him tissues.
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On court, while watching the video, Mordo began rocking back and forth and looking emotional, he took a napkin from the defense table.
Croft testified that Mordo told SLED that the last time he saw Maggie and Paul was when the family had dinner. However, earlier in the trial, Waters told the jury that the state had cellphone video evidence that put Murdaugh in the kennels afterwards.
When asked about his relationship with his wife, who again appears upset in the video, Murdo responds: “I had an amazing wife, she was an amazing mother. She didn’t work, but she took care of me and the kids.”
Murdau sniffed during the interview, then cried openly at times. During one sad moment of wailing, Mordo seemed to say this about Paul: “It’s too bad. You did it so badly.” When Waters repeated this to Croft, check out this is what he said.
While the interview was taking place, SLED agents downloaded Murdo’s phone and had him spit out a wad of chewing tobacco in order to perform an oral “bubble swab” to collect DNA.
Croft’s scan is expected to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The trial of Alex MordeauMajor discoveries and unanswered questions after the first week.
Alex Mordeau murder trial: Updates today 6 a.m. in Colleton County Courthouse
Week two of Alex Mordeau’s double trial began Monday with an often grueling cross-examination of one SLED agent and numerous firearms and ammunition evidence from another.
Murdaugh defense attorney Richard Harbotlian, who frequently cross-examined Worley with inquiries questioning state and local police practices and crime scene integrity, was conducted by Murdaugh.
At one point early in the crossover audition, Harbotlian Worley asked, “What makes a Special Agent so special?”
Harpootlian questioned the footprint and ballistic evidence captured at the scene, and the methods the police used to take them. After questioning the bullet trajectory information provided by Worley, he raised the question, “Doesn’t this indicate to you that there were two shooters? Is it possible that there were two shooters?”
At times, Harpootlian seemed as much of a seasoned lawyer as he is, asking the tricky questions that cast reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury. Other times, it appeared as a man who had lost his car keys, fumbled for exhibits and delayed court action. On multiple occasions, Judge Clifton Newman has hurried the defense, at one point giving the jury a break while the defense organized its exhibits and presentation.
When testimony and evidence were presented about the possibility of blood splattered on Murdoch’s shirt that night, Harbotlian wondered if the stains were from blood or other substances, such as bleach or rust. When testimony and evidence were presented about “biological material” found on the ATV near Maggie’s body, he wondered if it was human material, or could it be from a deer.
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Later on the sixth day of the trial, SLED Special Agent Jeff Croft took the stand. Video testimony and evidence from Croft included four firearms taken from Murdaugh’s gunroom—an AR-15 chambered for 300-round Blackout, and three 12-gauge shotguns—as well as ammunition from the gunroom and other areas of the Murdaugh estate.
Prosecutors say the ammunition found on the property and in the gun room matches the type of ammunition found at the murder scene.
Murdaugh Attoney Jim Griffin objected to the weapons and ammunition being entered into the evidence, stating that it was not the murder weapon, but Judge Newman ruled that it was relevant and overturned the objections.
Croft also provided phone footage of conversations between victim Paul Mordeau and his friend, Rogan Gibson, which helps elicit more information about the schedule for the evening.
Present during Croft’s search for Murdo’s estate the morning after the killings were several attorneys from Murdo’s family law firm, PMPED, including Lee Cobb, Mark Paul, and Ronnie Crosby.
Video footage also shows Croft and SLED customers rummaging through trash cans at Moselle, where they find empty rifle heads and, oddly enough, a credit card receipt with a $1,021.10 Gucci purchase circled on it. The plaintiffs have not commented on the significance of the credit card receipt or the Gucci purchase.
Dignitaries at today’s hearing included SC Attorney General Alan Wilson, Fox News anchor Nancy Grace, and even several students on a field trip from law school in the area. It should also be noted that several members of the public, who seem to be following the case closely, brought notebooks into the courtroom and took notes closely.
The court will resume at 2:40 p.m. with further testimony from Croft.
Looking back on Friday in Colleton County Courthouse
While the attorney general’s office won’t comment on the following witnesses who will appear next week, the state has released a list of 255 potential witnesses for this trial, which is expected to run through about February 10.
The first week of the double murder trial of disbarred Hampton attorney Richard “Alex” Murdaugh has included graphic and often bloody testimonies, photos and videos, as well as revelations of witness statements that contradict information Murdue previously provided to authorities, and the second week is expected to be Just attractive and revealing.
Summary of week 1What happened in court and what is to come.
Throughout the week, witness testimony presented the state’s allegation of the use of a family gun in at least one of the June 7, 2021 murders of Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and youngest son, Paul, in their Colleton County home, while raising thought-provoking questions about the timeline that took place. Murdo presented him to the police and contradicted his statement that he had checked the bodies for a pulse when he reportedly found them.
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This widely followed and highly publicized murder trial – a media “mini-town” has been set up around the courthouse featuring an overflow room for media, food trucks and fancy porta dishes
This widely followed and highly publicized murder trial – a media “mini-town” has been set up around the courthouse featuring a media bypass room, food trucks, and a fancy “porta potte”.