Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty. He faces life in prison without parole if found guilty. The trial started this week with jury selection and opening arguments, and is expected, for now, to run through Feb. 10 in Walterboro.
How to watch the Murdaugh double murder trial, who to follow from The State, Island Packet
9:51 a.m. — Prosecutors call 1st witness
Prosecutor Creighton Waters calls his first witness: Sgt. Daniel Greene with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office. Greene was the first officer who responded to the murder scene on June 7, 2021.
Greene describes arriving at the scene and finding the lifeless bodies of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. He says he spoke with Alex Murdaugh, who immediately began telling him about the 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach.
Alex Murdaugh appears to be visibly crying in court as Greene describes the scene.
9:50 a.m. — Watch the Murdaugh trial live
Columbia-based TV station WLTX is streaming the trial live on YouTube. Click this link to watch the courtroom action.
9:41 a.m. — Email condemns jury disclosure
Judge Clifton Newman opens court proceedings by stating that he received an email just before 6 p.m. Wednesday from a man named Chris Wilson. Wilson, according to Newman, complained about a violation of Newman’s court order that prohibited the public from disclosing the identity of jurors. Newman says he did not respond to the email.
Newman says he does not know whether this is the same Chris Wilson who is listed as a witness in the trial. That Chris Wilson is Bamberg-based attorney and a longtime friend of Alex Murdaugh who has emerged as a key player in the ongoing saga.
9:35 a.m. — First witness to take the stand
Prosecutor Creighton Waters and Murdaugh’s defense attorney Dick Harpootlian gave dueling, and compelling, opening arguments on Tuesday. Today, the first witness will take the stand.
9:27 a.m. — Alex Murdaugh’s family arrives
Alex Murdaugh’s remaining son, Buster, and his younger brother, John Marvin, have arrived at the Colleton County Courthouse. Buster and John Marvin Murdaugh made a surprise appearance in court Wednesday. Both are listed as potential witnesses for the defense.
