By: Andy Ann
Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh (former Hampton County Attorney) have petitioned for new evidence to be turned over in regard to the murders of Murdaugh’s wife, Margaret Murdaugh (52), and their youngest son, Paul Murdaugh (22).
Murdaugh’s wife and son were found shot to death at their family’s home on Jun 7, 2021. Alex Murdaugh made the 911 call after he said he found their bodies. Murdaugh was indicted by a grand jury for their murders in July of 2022. Murdaugh and his counsel maintain that he is innocent.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was brought in to investigate the double murder case. According to state officials, Murdaugh was involved with the murders. Allegations claim Alex Murdaugh shot his wife and son using a shotgun and rifle, but few details have been provided.
Crime lab analysts found three particles of gunshot residue on Murdaugh’s shorts and shirt, but nothing on his hands or shoes. Experts with SLED shared that the results of the test are not consistent with Murdaugh firing a shotgun at a close range, which the defendant is accused of. Murdaugh’s counsel argues that there is probable cause that the three particles were transferred to the defendant when he picked up the weapon after making the 911 call.
Murdaugh’s attorneys say they have not received the DNA and gunshot residue analysis of the two victims or their clothes. In the defense team’s motion to compel, they stated that if the evidence does not exist then SLED failed to investigate the scene properly and focused solely on the accused as the prime suspect from the beginning of the investigation.
Counsel argues that the evidence collected by SLED at the scene points toward the defendant not firing a gun that night. The defense team has demanded that the analysis evidence is released.
Note: The requisite threshold for gunshot residue particles to trigger a positive test result is three. One particle was found on Murdaugh’s hands, and zero were found on his shoes.
In a motion made on October 17th, Murdaugh’s counsel moved to compel the state to produce an extensive list of evidence and to produce this information within the next ten days. Murdaugh’s murder trial is set for January 23, 2023.
