Court officials said a bomb threat was made Wednesday. Prompting Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman to announce. That “we have to evacuate the building now.”
Walterboro, SC. — Alex Murdoff’s double-murder trial was temporarily suspended Wednesday. Afternoon due to a bomb threat, forcing lawyers, the defendant. And his family and spectators to evacuate the packed courtroom, as did a witness. to stand
Shortly before 12:30 p.m., Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman calmly. Told the courtroom at the Colleton County Courthouse. That “we have to evacuate the building now. We will remain in recess until we find out what is going on.”
The sudden announcement in the televised trial. Added heightened drama to the court proceedings against Murdoff. A once-powerful South Carolina lawyer. And scion of a well-connected legal family who is accused of murdering his wife and son in 2021. Moordoff was fired. . Through the back door, while members of his family. Who were seated in a row behind the defense table, were hurried out.
“Alex was taken by the police, but they took the family and threw us out,” said Marty Yates, a spectator in the courtroom. “And then we all evacuated the building and scattered around.”
The South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement said staff. At the Colleton County Courthouse received the threat. And that the agency is investigating with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office. Police dogs were brought in to help sweep the courthouse. And court staff and attorneys were allowed to return around 2:30 p.m. After cleaning the building.
Court staff did not identify the caller, but said it was a male-sounding voice. Murdaugh, 54, is accused of fatally shooting his wife Margaret, 52, and their youngest son Paul, 22. On the evening of June 7, 2021, in a case that has drawn national attention.
The sprawling saga began as an unsolved double murder. But eventually unraveled into widespread allegations. Of financial fraud, hitman-for-hire plots and drug addiction. and revived questions about other deaths linked to the Murdaffs.
Since last week, the prosecution and defense have clashed. Over whether the jury should be allowed. To hear testimony about Murdoff’s alleged financial wrongdoing. Newman ruled this week that he would allow it because it speaks to the alleged motive. Prosecutors allege. that Murdoch killed his wife and son to gain sympathy. And shut down an investigation into missing funds by his law firm. The jury heard testimony about $792,000. That went missing from Murdaugh’s former law firm and former. Colleagues who began questioning him about it. But said they suspended the investigation after Margaret and Paul were killed.
As Murdoff’s paralegal for several years, testified Wednesday. “The feeling in the back of my mind was right.”
The law firm’s chief financial officer, Gene. Seckinger, testified Tuesday that he confronted Murdoff. About the missing funds on the morning of the murder, and that he gave him a “dirty look” he never got.
She said the conversation with Murdaugh stopped. When she got a call about her dead father’s health. And she didn’t want to stress him because she was worried.
“He was successful not because of his work ethic. But because of his ability to build relationships. And settle people down and manipulate clients into liking him,” Seckinger testified. “The art of bull—-, basically.“
Murdoff’s defense team claims there is no direct evidence linking him to the deaths of his wife and son. And that state prosecutors “have far more evidence. Of financial misconduct than evidence of guilt in a murder case.“
