Murdo’s defense calls fifth witness in double homicide case

Alex Murdo, once a prominent Hampton lawyer from a prominent family with political connections, is on trial in the deaths of his wife Maggie and son Paul.

Murdo pleaded not guilty. He faces life imprisonment without parole if proven guilty. The trial began on January 23 with jury selection, opening arguments, and the first round of testimony.

The defense said it expects to wrap up the case by mid or late afternoon on Friday, with jury deliberation likely to continue until next week after witness denials and closing arguments.

How to watch Murdo’s double murder trial, who to follow from The State, Island Packet

9:30 a.m. — Court resumes hearing, fifth defense witness called.

Defense attorneys for Alex Murdo, the disgraced Hampton lawyer, will call a fifth witness on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the jury heard from Murdo’s eldest son, Buster, 26, who graciously spoke of the family’s close relationship and his father’s whereabouts hours and days after the murder of his mother, Maggie, and younger brother, Paul.

“My dad coached every Little League team I played on,” said Buster, who now lives on Hilton Head Island.

Buster also told jurors that Maggie’s and Paul’s deaths had devastated his father.

“He was heartbroken,” Buster said.

Buster Murdo (right), son of Alex Murdo, walks to the witness stand as his father (left) watches the trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, Tuesday, February 21, 2023.  The 54-year-old veteran lawyer stands trial on two counts of murdering his wife and son at their home and hunting lodge in Colleton County, South Carolina, June 7, 2021.  (Jeff Blake/State via AP, Poole)

Buster Murdo (right), son of Alex Murdo, walks to the witness stand as his father (left) watches the trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, Tuesday, February 21, 2023. The 54-year-old veteran lawyer stands trial on two counts of murdering his wife and son at their home and hunting lodge in Colleton County, South Carolina, June 7, 2021. (Jeff Blake/State via AP, Pool)

The jury also heard from North Carolina medical examiner Mike Sutton, who said it was “highly unlikely” that the 6-foot Murdo could be Maggie’s shooter, who left bullet holes in the walls of a dog kennel where Murdo is accused of killing his wife and son on the night of June 7, 2021.

Sutton also testified that if Murdo had been in the main house on the Moselle, he would not have been able to hear the shooting – even if there was a wooden barrier, as now, after Sutton conducted a noise level test.

Attorney David Fernandez of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday tried to refute Sutton’s testimony and the credibility of Sutton’s testimony by constantly trying to remind jurors that Sutton was mainly involved in car accidents and machine failures, although Sutton said he did research on bullet trajectories. for his work.

Defense attorney Dick Harputlian told Judge Clifton Newman that the defense team would likely rest on Friday, meaning prosecutors could present any rebuttal witnesses by early next week, followed by the judge’s closing arguments and indictment before the jury.

Mike Sutton, a medical examiner for the North Carolina Accident Investigation Team, testifies during the trial of Alex Murdo at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, Tuesday, February 21, 2023.  The 54-year-old attorney appeared before the court.  on two counts of murdering his wife and son at their home and hunting lodge in Colleton County, South Carolina on June 7, 2021.  (Grace Beam Alford/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool)

Mike Sutton, a medical examiner for the North Carolina Accident Investigation Team, testifies during the trial of Alex Murdo at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, Tuesday, February 21, 2023. The 54-year-old attorney appeared before the court. on two counts of murdering his wife and son at their home and hunting lodge in Colleton County, South Carolina on June 7, 2021. (Grace Beam Alford/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool)

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