Alex Murdaugh trial – live: Gunshot residue revealed after law firm partner confirms voice on kennel video
Judge Clifton Newman ruled that the evidence of Murdaugh’s financial crimes is germane to the murder case and therefore can be considered by the jury.
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The jury at Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial, are no hearing about his alleged financial crimes in a major blow to the disgraced former attorney’s case.
Judge Clifton Newman ruled on Monday that the evidence of Mr Murdaugh’s alleged financial fraud can be considered by the jury with regards to its role in establishing a motive.
Mr Murdaugh is accused of shooting dead his wife Maggie and son Paul at the kennels of the family’s vast hunting estate in Islandton, South Carolina, on 7 June 2021.
Separately, he is facing around 100 charges for stealing $8m in settlement money from clients at his law firm. Until now, testimony about his alleged financial crimes was heard without jurors present.
In addition, to the damning information about his alleged thefts, the jury on Tuesday also heard the results of gunshot residue tests on the clothes Murdaugh was wearing when police arrived, a car seatbelt, and on a blue raincoat that the defence team did not want included as evidence.
The tests revealed a large number of gunshot residue particles on the inside of the raincoat, possibly indicating something had been wrapped in it, such as the never found murder weapons.
The prosecution askes if the amount of GSR particles on the inside of the blue raincoat is consistent with a recently-fired gun being wrapped in it.
Ms Fletcher says yes.
No further questions.
Cross-examination of Ms Fletcher will begin at 9.30am on Wednesday morning.
Ms Fletcher says with the number of GSR particles she found, if they were transferred from other objects, then those would have to have been covered in a significant amount of particles themselves.
Moving on to the testing of the controversial blue raincoat, Ms Fletcher explains that it was so large that the garment had to be laid out across two tables.
She continues by explaining that they conducted particle lists across the whole of the jacket, both inside and out, including in pockets.
A total number of 25 particle lifts were conducted — 13 were taken from the outside and 12 from the interior.
A total of 38 particles were found on the inside of the jacket — there were likely more to be found but she stopped counting.
Ms Fletcher has not yet said how many particles were found on the outside of the garment.
She testifies that the jacket either obtained the particles through transfer or if it was worn inside out and near the discharge of a weapon.
One particle was found on the outside of the hood, but three were found on the inside.
One GSR particle was found on the seatbelt buckle taken from Mr Murdaugh’s SUV.
It could have got there from either object transfer or proximity to a gunshot. In this case, it is most likely object transfer as no weapon was discharged from the vehicle.
One GSR particle was also found on Mr Murdaugh’s hands.
This indicates one of three things, Ms Fletcher: discharge of a firearm, proximity to a gunshot, or transfer from another object.
No particles were found on his shoes.
On the shorts, GSR particles were found on both the right and left groin areas and were either in the vicinity of a gunshot or were transferred from another object.
After an explanation of GSR testing and SLED policy, Ms Flethcer examines Mr Murdaugh’s white t-shirt.
She and her colleague both noted the smell of fresh laundry detergent when the t-shirt evidence bag was unsealed.
There was light staining on the shirt, but the cargo shorts Mr Murdaugh had been wearing were clean.
GSR particles were found on the shirt on the right sleeve, right chest (two particles) and left sleeve, left chest (one particle).
Ms Fletcher testifies that in her opinion the item of clothing was either in the vicinity of a discharged firearm or came into contact with an object with GSR on it.
New Witness: Megan Fletcher, SLED forensic scientist
The state’s next witness is Megan Fletcher, the SLED forensic scientist who will speak about the gunshot residue evidence (GSR).
Yesterday, the court heard about the collection of the GSR trace evidence, Ms Fletcher is now expected to reveal what the results were pertaining to the evidence collected from the murder scene and Murdaugh properties.
Mr Crosby says that when Mr Murdaugh would come into the offices after the murders (but before his termination) he would fall asleep at his desk, said he was having trouble sleeping, and lost weight. He was also taking medication to help him with anxiety.
He also testifies that Mr Murdaugh was carrying a gun a month after the murders. Mr Crosby had never seen him carry a gun around for protection before.
Court takes its mid-afternoon break.
Source: independent.co.uk