Alex Murdaugh, the disgraced South Carolina attorney facing accusations that he killed his wife and son, testified in his defense, denying allegations but acknowledging that he lied to investigators.
The testimony on Thursday comes as 54-year-old Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to the fatal 2021 shootings of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh. At the outset of the former attorney's testimony, he vehemently denied being responsible for the victims' deaths, which occurred at the family's property in Colleton County on June 7, 2021.
Alex Murdaugh Testifies
When Murdaugh was questioned by his defense team, he said that he did not shoot his wife or his son at any point in his life. He continued to say that he would never intentionally hurt either of them.
Defense attorney Jim Griffin on Wednesday asked Judge Clifton Newman if the defendant could plead the Fifth Amendment protection against incriminating himself as he faces allegations in almost 100 other financial crimes. As per USA Today, these include stealing money from clients, money laundering, tax evasion, and insurance fraud.
The South Carolina Attorney General's Office seeks to put Murdaugh away for life if he is convicted of the murders. The defendant did admit that his voice was the one that could be heard on a cellphone video that was taken at the kennels where Maggie and Paul were brutally killed five minutes before the incident.
Murdaugh also confessed that he lied several times to South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigators when he was asked when was the last time he had seen his wife and son. He referred to the victims as "Mags" and "Pau-pau" on the stand.
Appearing emotional at times, the defendant was at a loss for words before he told Griffin that he lied to federal agents about where he was on the night of the murders. He said that he did not trust the agency and was paranoid, which was induced by his drug addiction.
Read Also : Florida Shooting Spree Update
Lying to Federal Agents
Speaking to a packed Colleton County courtroom, Murdaugh said that he lied multiple times, citing his evolving addiction. According to the Daily Beast, he said that he would get into such circumstances or situations where he would start being paranoid.
Prior to his confession that he was at the kennels shortly before the death of his wife and son, he told investigators that he was sleeping at the main house during that time. Before this, prosecutors showed the jurors a video Paul filmed minutes before his death. In it, Alex and Maggie's voices could be heard in the background.
The defendant claims that he was not thinking clearly on the day of his loved ones' deaths, which made him incapable of reasoning. He said this was the reason for his lying to federal agents.
Now, the prosecution begins its cross-examination of the case, with lead prosecutor Creighton Waters being the one to ask Murdaugh questions. Shortly before this, Murdaugh also spoke about a time when he asked a man to shoot him in September 2021. The defendant argued that he had withdrawal symptoms during the encounter, which caused him to act differently, said CNN.
Related Article: Five-Decade-Old Vermont Murder Mystery Finally Solved
