Defense delivers closing argument in Alex Murdaugh murder trial
COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Alex Murdaugh’s defense team is set to deliver closing arguments Wednesday in his double-murder trial.
Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife Margaret and youngest son Paul at their family property in June of 2021.
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State prosecutor Creighton Waters spent over three hours total presenting the state’s closing argument Tuesday.
Waters focused on the four factors he said the jury should consider during their deliberations: motive, means, opportunity, and guilt of conscience.
He said Murdaugh’s motive for murdering his wife and son was the impending storm that Waters believes was about to come to a head. Murdaugh’s father was sick, he had an opioid addiction, he and Paul were being sued in the boat case, his financial crimes were about to be exposed, and his prominent lifestyle was about to crumble. Waters said shame was an “extraordinary provocation” for Murdaugh.
Waters said Murdaugh also had the means to do it. He claims family guns were used to kill Maggie and Paul, and that they showed no defensive wounds, meaning they likely knew their attacker. Waters proposed that as a lawyer, Murdaugh also had the knowledge to construct an alibi and manipulate the circumstances of the situation to support his narrative.
The opportunity was a small window between when Murdaugh, Paul, and Maggie can all be heard on the kennel video at 8:44 p.m. and when Maggie and Paul’s phones go silent at 8:49 p.m.
Murdaugh lied to investigators about being at the kennels that night, which Waters claims speaks to his consciousness of guilt. Waters repeatedly questioned what kind of father would lie about the last time he saw his wife and son alive.
Waters also said the lie was a testament to Murdaugh’s lack of credibility and urged the jury not to become the latest victims of Murdaugh’s lies.
After the defense’s closing argument, the prosecution will have the chance to give a rebuttal argument. Once arguments conclude, the jury will be charged and deliberations could begin. If the jury does not reach a verdict by Friday, deliberations could spill over into the weekend. A decision has not yet been made on whether the jury will be sequestered.
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