Murder. A botched hitman plot. Thriller deaths. Thousands and thousands of {dollars} of stolen cash. Opioid habit.
The case involving Alex Murdaugh seems to have all of it relating to drama and plot twists.
It’s then little shock that his homicide trial in Walterboro, South Carolina, captivated the general public all throughout America within the weeks earlier than the jury convicted him.
However it ought to then additionally come as little shock that the high-profile case spilled out right into a spectacle far past the testimony jurors heard within the courtroom.
Throughout a dramatic six weeks in courtroom, the trial was rocked by a bomb menace, apparently obscene gestures and unhealthy behaviour from the Murdaugh relations, a controversial GoFundMe account, a Covid-19 outbreak amongst jurors – and a dozen eggs.
Right here’s how Murdaugh’s homicide trial descended right into a circus:
Craziest courthouse moments from the Alex Murdaugh trial
Bomb menace
The trial was plunged into chaos on 8 February when the courthouse was instantly evacuated resulting from a bomb menace.
The bomb menace got here in to workers at Colleton County Courthouse simply earlier than 12.30pm ET, prompting a sudden evacuation of the complete constructing.
Brian Hudak, SLED laptop crimes particular agent, had solely simply sat down on the stand and begun introducing himself, when Choose Clifton Newman interjected saying he was calling a recess.
Seconds later, he clarified that the complete constructing wanted to be evacuated.
Police block off roads close to the courthouse because of the bomb menace
(AP)
“We’ve got to evacuate the constructing right now. We’ll be in recess till we uncover what’s happening,” he stated.
Murdaugh was whisked off to an unknown location in a automotive whereas courtroom workers, journalists and members of the general public had been rushed out of the constructing and its grounds.
Dozens of emergency automobiles descended on the scene and a bomb squad was referred to as in.
By 2.30pm the menace was marked all-clear, as safety started permitting folks again into the courthouse for testimony to renew.
A number of sources have since advised FITS Information that the menace was referred to as in from Ridgeland, South Carolina, and got here from a jail inmate.
The menace positioned the purported bomb in probably the most safe a part of the constructing: the choose’s chambers.
‘Flipping the chicken’ and different Murdaugh unhealthy behaviour
In one other twist, Murdaugh’s relations have now been warned that they are going to be thrown out of his homicide trial after his surviving son Buster appeared to “flip the chicken” at a witness.
Choose Clifton Newman has reportedly issued a number of warnings to a number of members of the disgraced lawyer’s household about their behaviour in courtroom, the place they’ve placed on a united entrance because the begin of his trial.
The relations have already been moved to the again of the courtroom in Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina – and are actually just one fallacious transfer away from being booted out altogether.
Members of the Murdaugh household, together with his son Buster Murdaugh in centre, on the homicide trial
(AP)
Maggie and Murdaugh’s surviving son Buster was caught showing to make a impolite gesture to Mark Tinsley as he took the witness stand on Thursday a couple of lawsuit he introduced in opposition to the accused killer.
Footage from the courtroom reveals Buster apparently flipping the chicken as he stared down the witness.
Sources additionally advised FITS Information that when Buster was requested to maneuver to the again of the courtroom, he allegedly kicked over a water bottle in anger.
Amongst a number of the different unhealthy behaviour from the highly effective household which has reigned over the Hampton County justice system for the final century, Murdaugh’s sister Lynn allegedly handed the disgraced lawyer an undisclosed merchandise.
When she was advised to cease, Lynn – like Buster – allegedly didn’t take it properly, turning into “demonstrative” with courtroom workers.
It additionally prompted the courtroom to order a drug check for Murdaugh, who has beforehand revealed he has been hooked on opioids for the final 20 years. The outcomes of that medicine check stay unclear.
The refusal of a number of the Murdaugh relations to abide by courtroom guidelines within the high-profile trial is maybe most intriguing on condition that the Murdaughs are notoriously acquainted with the courtroom system – coming from an extended line of native prosecutors.
However, whereas a number of the relations have sparked the ire of the choose, sources stated that Murdaugh’s brothers Randy and John Marvin Murdaugh had been nothing however compliant with the courtroom and advised courtroom officers they had been blissful to sit down wherever within the room.
Second Alex Murdaugh’s son seems to provide the finger to homicide trial witness
Because the begin of Murdaugh’s trial, the household has placed on a present of help, sitting within the row instantly behind the person accused of killing two of their their family members.
Nonetheless, notably, within the hours the place testimony was heard within the absence of the jury, the Murdaughs had been nowhere to be seen.
They might then enter the courtroom earlier than the jury was seated.
Controversial GoFundMe
Outdoors the courthouse, it emerged {that a} GoFundMe has been arrange for Murdaugh’s mom’s caregiver “for her bravery” in testifying at his homicide trial.
Mushell “Shelly” Smith gave emotional testimony on 6 February, the place she solid doubts on a part of Murdaugh’s alibi on the evening of the murders – revealing he had lied about how lengthy he had spent at his sick mom’s home.
Breaking down in tears at factors, she described how a “fidgety” Murdaugh confirmed up on the home for a quick 20-minute go to on 7 June 2021 however later requested her to inform authorities he had been there double the size of time.
Within the aftermath of the killings, he then provided to assist Ms Smith each financially and along with her different job and introduced a thriller blue merchandise to depart at his mother and father’ residence, she advised jurors.
GoFundMe launched for the carer of Alex Murdaugh’s mom
(GoFundMe)
On 8 February, Ms Smith’s daughter Rachelle Buckner launched a GoFundMe marketing campaign to “reward her for her bravery and her honesty because it was one of many hardest issues she needed to do”.
Two days later, the GoFundMe had raised greater than $24,000 for Ms Smith.
The donation sparked some controversy – with authorized consultants warning that it may very well be detrimental to the prosecution’s case if the state needs to name the witness again to the stand.
This difficulty appeared to achieve a head on 9 February when it emerged that one other witness – lawyer Mark Tinsley – had made a $1,000 donation to the fund.
Mr Tinsley filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Murdaughs on behalf of the household of Mallory Seashore, the 19-year-old killed in a ship crash the place Paul was allegedly drunk behind the wheel in 2019.
He testified how the lawsuit was placing Murdaugh’s funds below elevated scrutiny on the time of the murders.
Murdaugh’s funds would later be uncovered – and he’s now going through round 100 costs from a number of indictments for stealing nearly $8.5m from legislation agency shoppers courting again to 2011.
Murdaugh’s mom’s caretaker testifies about his whereabouts on evening of murders
The defence introduced up Mr Tinsley’s donation in courtroom and requested the choose to strike his testimony due to it.
Defence lawyer Phil Barber advised the choose that he “made a monetary cost to a witness in the midst of a trial … as a reward for her honesty”.
Choose Clifton Newman denied the movement, however referred to as the problem “good fodder for cross-examination” – paving the best way for a possible sparring match between Mr Tinsley and the defence attorneys.
However, regardless of the suggestion, the defence selected to not elevate the problem below cross-examination and actually declined to ask Mr Tinsley any questions. This got here after a contentious forwards and backwards between the defence and Mr Tinsley within the shadow trial.
Jurors worn out by Covid, illness
On 13 February, the double homicide trial was disrupted but once more as two jurors examined optimistic for Covid-19.
Choose Clifton Newman made the bombshell announcement firstly of the weeks’ proceedings, revealing that one juror was asymptomatic whereas the opposite had a cough and sore throat.
Following the revelation, the defence raised considerations that others may very well be contaminated however might not be testing optimistic but – one thing which might threaten to derail the trial altogether if extra jurors check optimistic within the coming days.
Defence lawyer Dick Harpootlian requested Choose Newman for a delay to the trial, saying that – whereas it will be expensive to the defence – it might stop a much bigger drawback down the road.
Bodycam reveals Alex Murdaugh as first officers arrive on scene of spouse and son’s murders
Prosecutor Creighton Waters agreed with the defence in asking for a delay for a number of days, saying that neither facet needs to see a mistrial declared as a result of they’re instantly left with out 12 jurors – an actual risk on condition that solely three out of the unique six juror alternates now stay.
Regardless of the considerations raised, Choose Newman declined to postpone the trial.
As an alternative, he really useful that jurors – and others in courtroom – put on masks going forwards and stated that the remaining jurors can be examined once more on Wednesday.
Jurors 441 and 326 had been then chosen from the alternates and seated to switch the 2 jurors who examined optimistic.
On 15 February, Choose Newman stated that each one remaining jurors had been nonetheless testing destructive.
On 21 February, Choose Newman introduced {that a} juror was sick and needed to attend a physician’s appointment.
The choose stated he deliberate to switch the juror with an alternate. The juror in query was already an alternate herself.
If she is changed then there can be solely two alternates left (there have been six firstly of the trial).
Defence lawyer’s daring ‘tempting’ quip at prosecution
On 21 February, defence lawyer Dick Harpootlian precipitated a stir at his homicide trial as he cracked a joke whereas showing to place a gun on the prosecution desk.
Mr Harpootlian made his daring joke throughout testimony by Mike Sutton, a forensic engineering knowledgeable witness for the defence.
“It’s tempting,” Mr Harpootlian remarked as he held a gun not directly pointed on the state’s desk. The .300 Blackout rifle belonged to Buster, and has been used on the trial for demonstrative functions as it’s much like the one believed to have been used within the homicide of the defendant’s spouse Maggie.
“I don’t understand how to do that with out pointing it out at anyone,” Mr Harpootlian added because the courtroom erupted with laughter.
Murdaugh may very well be seen grinning from the defence desk in the course of the uncommon second of levity in a trial that has been marked by graphic descriptions of the murders.
Alex Murdaugh trial choose admonishes defence lawyer for Twitter publish
Viewers following the trial on-line had been much less amused by the quip, dozens of them taking to Twitter to query whether or not they’d heard appropriately.
Choose compares Murdaugh’s lawyer to Kyrie Irving
Initially of day 19 of the disgraced authorized scion’s trial on 21 February, Choose Clifton Newman questioned Murdaugh’s lawyer Jim Griffin about considered one of his tweets concerning the case.
On 18 February, Mr Griffin shared a hyperlink to a The Washington Submit op-ed titled: “Alex Murdaugh trial reveals a sloppy investigation.”
Earlier than jurors entered the courtroom on 21 February, Choose Newman introduced up the publish, saying that he had obtained emails “regarding a social media publish by Mr Griffin commenting on witness testimony and the standard of the investigation by the state”.
The choose stated that the publish then appeared on his personal Twitter feed that morning.
“Mr Griffin is that this a part of your defence technique?” the choose requested, eliciting amusing from the gallery and a clumsy pause from the lawyer.
“Your honour, all I did was retweet an article that was revealed in The Washington Submit. I didn’t put any remark or make any assertion. I simply retweeted an article that was within the newspaper,” Mr Griffin responded.
At this level, the choose in contrast Mr Griffin to NBA star Kyrie Irving who was suspended from the Brooklyn Nets final yr for retweeting an antisemitic publish.
“We had an expert basketball participant who retweeted an article that resulted in him being suspended from the NBA for about 10 days and value him about $10m in wage, so retweeting is identical as – to some – as if [it’s] your tweet,” he stated.
Mr Irving was embroiled in controversy in late October when he tweeted a hyperlink to Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, a documentary which peddles a number of antisemitic conspiracy theories and falsehoods. The publish sparked an prompt backlash and he was suspended with out pay from the Nets.
After making the comparability, the choose then elicited some laughs when he stated he was “not a Twitter pal” of Mr Griffin’s however had nonetheless come throughout the publish.
Choose Newman advised Mr Griffin that his actions go “in opposition to the spirit of the legislation and doesn’t move the texture check”.
Mr Griffin conceded, saying that: “I can’t retweet something or tweet something till the trial is over.”
Juror misconduct – and a dozen eggs
A juror sparked laughter within the courtroom on 2 March when she revealed she had left “a dozen eggs” within the jury room after she was dramatically dismissed for misconduct.
Choose Newman introduced {that a} feminine juror – quantity 785 – was being faraway from the panel for discussing the case with not less than three different folks.
The choose stated that he had obtained a grievance a number of days in the past from a member of the general public saying {that a} juror had mentioned the case with a number of folks not on the jury panel.
Following an investigation – which concerned interviews with each the juror who denied any wrongdoing and the people she was accused of talking to – Choose Newman stated that it was decided that the lady had spoken to not less than three folks concerning the case. She had additionally given her opinion concerning the proof she had seen within the case.
Buster Murdaugh listens to prosecutor’s closing statements
(AP)
After telling the defence and prosecution concerning the matter, Choose Newman introduced the juror into the courtroom and advised her she was being eliminated.
The juror prompted laughter within the courtroom when she was requested if she had left something within the jury room.
“A dozen eggs,” she replied.
This sparked laughter from Choose Newman, the defence and the prosecution – and even Murdaugh – as courtroom workers had been instructed to go and gather her eggs from the jury room to return to her.
A brand new juror was chosen from the ultimate two alternates to make up the panel of 12.
The drama got here minutes earlier than the defence started delivering its closing statements – and hours earlier than the jury started deliberating towards a responsible verdict.
