In a pivotal moment in the double murder trial against Alex Murdaugh, a South Carolina judge ruled Monday that he would allow the jury to hear evidence of financial crimes allegedly perpetrated by the once-powerful lawyer.
Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman made the decision after several witnesses, including Murdaugh’s former law firm colleagues and banking associates, testified without the jury present so that he could decide on the relevance of the allegations.
Murdaugh, 54, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Margaret, 52, and their youngest son, Paul, 22, on the evening of June 7, 2021. State prosecutors contend the murders were committed to cover up a slew of financial misdeeds by Murdaugh, who they say stole about $8.5 million from more than a dozen victims and sought to garner sympathy ahead of being publicly exposed.
“I find that the jury is entitled to consider whether the apparent desperation of Mr. Murdaugh because of his dire financial situation and threat of being exposed for committing the crimes of which he was later charged with resulted in the commission of the alleged crimes,” Newman said. “While motive is not a necessary element, the state must prove malice, and evidence of motive may be used to prove it.”
Murdaugh’s defense team objected to the judge’s ruling. His lawyers have previously said in court that his finances are only being used to vilify him and the state hasn’t offered any evidence showing Murdaugh would have reaped a financial windfall from the deaths of his wife and son, such as a life insurance payout, nor that they knew of any alleged impropriety, which he sought to conceal by killing them.
“They’ve got a whole lot more evidence about financial misconduct than they do about evidence of guilt in a murder case. And that’s what this is all about,” defense lawyer Jim Griffin said Friday.
Newman had said last week that it was the defense who “opened the door” to allowing Murdaugh’s financial situation to be up for review when…
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