The clip was time-stamped at 8:44 pm. From the dog kennel where Murdoch’s son Paul. And wife Margaret were killed minutes later, according to prosecutors.
Walterboro, SC. — Prosecutors in Alex Murdoff’s murder trial showed a video of a dog wagging. Its tail Wednesday to chip away at the once-powerful lawyer’s alibi that he was not at the crime scene in June 2021.
Murduff, 54, swayed back and forth and was seen crying. As video taken from her son Paul’s cellphone was played in court. Three different voices can be heard in the short clip. Which was time-stamped at 8:44 p.m. and led to the dog kennels. On the family’s rural estate property where Paul, 22, and his mother Margaret, 52. Were fatally shot around 8:50 p.m., according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors first played the video during the testimony of the state’s witness. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division cellphone forensics expert Lt. Britt Dove. And said they believe Paul is trying to capture video of the dog’s tail while the voice talks. About whether a dog has a chicken or a guinea pig in its mouth. The prosecution before said the voices belonged to Moordoff. His wife and son, but Dove was not specifically asked if the patriarch was among them.
The owner of the dog in the video, a close family friend. Later testified that Paul Murdoff was watching the animal for him. At the family estate in Colleton County and that they last spoke at 8:40 p.m.
Friend Rogan Gibson testified. That they talked about whether something was wrong with the dog’s tail. He also said he could hear Margaret and a male voice. That sounded like Marduff in the background before hanging up. At 8:49 p.m., Gibson texted Paul to “see if you can get a good picture of the tail,” according to evidence. present at trial. Yet, Gibson received no response; She texted Paul again about an hour later, but never heard back.
Gibson testified that he spoke with investigators. The day after learning of the murder. And said he was “99%” sure it was Murduff in the background when he spoke to Paul on the phone.
Asked again by lead prosecutor Creighton Waters. If he believed Murdoff was in the dog kennel that night. And “did you recognize the voice of your second family,” Gibson replied, “I did.”
He also testified that neither Paul. Nor Margaret were pressured or intimidated to state. That there was a stranger or clear threat with them on the property that night.
Murduff, a once-prominent personal injury attorney. With a long line of prosecutors in southeastern South Carolina. Has denied he was involved in the deaths of his wife and their young son. He before told investigators that was the last time he saw his family. At dinner in the evening, and he wasn’t in the dog kennel, instead taking a short nap before going to see his sick mother.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Jim Griffin spoke to Gibson. About how there were unsecured guns around the family’s property. That could possibly be stolen, and that by all accounts, Margaret. And Alex Murdoff and their sons, Paul and Buster, had a loving relationship with each other. relationship.
Prosecutors alleged that Murdoch had been stealing. From clients and his firm for years. And that he killed his wife and son to gain sympathy before being exposed for his financial problems.
If convicted, Murdoff faces up to 30 years to life in prison. He also has more than 80 financial charges against him.
Another defense attorney, Richard “Dick” Harputlian. Called the state’s claim “ridiculous” in court Wednesday.
Dove caught a trawl of information from the cellphones of Alex Murdoff, his wife and son. There were phone call logs and texts, steps recorded, apps requesting information,. GPS locations, when Margaret’s phone switched. From vertical portrait mode to horizontal landscape mode and back. And — key to the prosecution’s case — when the camera was active.
During court Tuesday, evidence presented revealed. That Mordoff’s last text to his wife was “Call me babe.
