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⚖️ MURDAUGH MURDERS & TRIAL THREAD ⚖️

Maybe an AR15 300 Blackout?
never heard of a Black Powder AR15, black powder usually refers to muzzleloader style guns.
I stand corrected, I actually have one that my son=in-law and I built
 
What your talking about is called an Allen charge where the judge requests that the jurys keep deliberating. Sometimes it is a waste of time. Sometimes, jurors just need more time to work through all of the evidence and that goes both ways both innocent and guilty. Ive seen cases where 11-1 guilty becomes 12-0 not guilty

The legal standard is beyond a reasonable doubt not beyond all doubt. In fact, i suspect that it this case gets you will hear in the closing jury instructions that the judge will say something to the effect that very few things in the world can be proven beyond all doubt. So to answer your question, i have to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt not all doubt as the law dictates. Based on your statement, you would be unqualified to serve on a jury.

Where are you getting there are so many innocent people locked up? Are there innocent found guilty. Yes. But i dont know how to quantify that
I saw a study a year or so ago that an estimated 1/20 people convicted were innocent. I'm basing it on that number and the Documentary of those people who tell their stories. Gut wrenching thinking about that. (Estimated that 975 people are innocently convicted every year in the US)

So help me understand, what defines beyond reasonable doubt?
 
Court TV live feed. Buster Murdaugh has lost quite a bit of weight.

Prosecutors begin opening arguments now!
 
Prosecution opening statement highlights:



-The shell casings from the AR-15 used at the crime scene match shell casings that Alex and others had used elsewhere on the property

-Alex owned three AR-15s that were identical to the one used in the killing, but only one was recovered at the house

-A few weeks after the killings, Alex was seen taking a "blue tarp" to his sick mother's house. Later, investigators recovered a blue raincoat from her attic that had gunshot residue on it

-There was gunshot residue on Alex the day of the murders
 
Prosecution opening statement highlights:



-The shell casings from the AR-15 used at the crime scene match shell casings that Alex and others had used elsewhere on the property

-Alex owned three AR-15s that were identical to the one used in the killing, but only one was recovered at the house

-A few weeks after the killings, Alex was seen taking a "blue tarp" to his sick mother's house. Later, investigators recovered a blue raincoat from her attic that had gunshot residue on it

-There was gunshot residue on Alex the day of the murders
(continued)

-Alex's phone pinged moving toward the kennels
-Paul's video (taken at 8:44:55 PM): Paul's voice, Maggie's voice, and Alex's voice
-8:49:01: Paul's phone locked forever (even though PM had ongoing text conversation with a friend up until that time)
-8:49:31: Maggie's phone locked forever
-[Undercuts AM's alibi that he was visiting his father and hadn't been at Moselle until he discovered the bodies]
 
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(continued)

-Alex's phone pinged moved toward the kennels
-Paul's video (taken at 8:44:55 PM): Paul's voice, Maggie's voice, and Alex's voice
-8:49:01: Paul's phone locked forever (even though PM had ongoing text conversation with a friend up until that time)
-8:49:31: Maggie's phone locked forever
-[Undercuts AM's alibi that he was visiting his father and hadn't been at Moselle until he discovered the bodies]
has that video of Paul been released?
 
How in the hell can you live in Hampton for 4 years and not know who they are?? Were you a hermit?? ;-) There are only, what 5000 people in the whole town (including Varnville)??

As it stands, I grew up with all of the folks associated with this affair; the whole thing is very sad..
Started HS at Wade Hampton midway thru 11th grade, left for college after I graduated. So guess it was more like 1 1/2 down there. Parents lived down there a couple more years. Played ball in school. Haven’t been back in 20 years. Knew plenty of folks. Wasn’t as old as the dad and kids are younger. Didn’t ever need lawyers. My dad may have known them.
 
Defense opening statement:



-Second shot from the shotgun “exploded PM’s head”

-executed in a brutal fashion

-Maggie shot running, then walked up and shot in back of head – executed

-AM left house at 9:06 to visit Mom, since Dad went to hospital that day

-“cellphone records are incomplete”

-MM’s phone thrown out on side of road ¼ mile down the road from Moselle

-alternate theory:

AM comes home and finds his wife and son butchered.

-range of shotgun blast and wounds = shooter would have been covered in blood and spatter
 
Defense opening statement:



-Second shot from the shotgun “exploded PM’s head”

-executed in a brutal fashion

-Maggie shot running, then walked up and shot in back of head – executed

-AM left house at 9:06 to visit Mom, since Dad went to hospital that day

-“cellphone records are incomplete”

-MM’s phone thrown out on side of road ¼ mile down the road from Moselle

-alternate theory:

AM comes home and finds his wife and son butchered.

-range of shotgun blast and wounds = shooter would have been covered in blood and spatter
(cont)

-cellphone records show AM would have had less than 10 minutes to kill them, ditch his bloody clothes, get back to the house, and then leave

-big question: one shooter or two? More likely two
 
What channel are yall watching this on? And channel # if you have directv.
 
First witness will be a LE officer with a body-worn camera video.

There are technical issues with the audio in the courtroom.

Video is 20-30 minutes long.

Jury will be excused until 9:30 tomorrow morning.
 
Really curious if we will get the body cam video on the courtroom feed. Those can be fascinating -- and disturbing -- seeing the reactions of people during the most emotional, trying times in their lives...
 
(cont)

-cellphone records show AM would have had less than 10 minutes to kill them, ditch his bloody clothes, get back to the house, and then leave

-big question: one shooter or two? More likely two
I wonder how the verdicts will be handed down when this is all over. Murder of PM....guilty/not guilty. Murder of MM...guilty/not guilty. Or on the two counts of 1st degree murder...guilty/not guilty. They do it both ways on TV haha.
 
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After hearing both opening statements, my conclusion is that he did not kill them. But he was there to witness it
State has a high burden, and can either factually prove beyond a reasonable doubt or AM will be acquitted. Last jury I sat on was a drug running case in Atlanta. We, the jury, felt he was guilty but you have to convict on facts so the guy walked.
 
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I disagree...but only the jury's opinion matters in the end.
For the record, I didn’t say he was incompetent, just that he seems to be getting up there in age and fumbles with words somewhat. “Hunting whatever it is they planted them sunflowers for, what was it quail? Anyways…”
 
Defense opening statement:



-Second shot from the shotgun “exploded PM’s head”

-executed in a brutal fashion

-Maggie shot running, then walked up and shot in back of head – executed

-AM left house at 9:06 to visit Mom, since Dad went to hospital that day

-“cellphone records are incomplete”

-MM’s phone thrown out on side of road ¼ mile down the road from Moselle

-alternate theory:

AM comes home and finds his wife and son butchered.

-range of shotgun blast and wounds = shooter would have been covered in blood and spatter
Failed to mention Alex crying when they described the wife’s murder
 
State has a high burden, and can either factually prove beyond a reasonable doubt or AM will be acquitted. Last jury I sat on was a drug running case in Atlanta. We, the jury, felt he was guilty but you have to convict on facts so the guy walked.
He did a great job reminding them naturally you assume they arrested the one who did it. However, you swore under oath to presume he’s innocent. It’s their job to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that he did it. Otherwise, you have to look at him the entire time and say “ he didn’t do it”.
 
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After thinking a bit on the opening statements I got the impression that much of the prosecution will be relying on a good bit of circumstantial evidence, although it could be quite compelling. OTH the defense wants to question 'why would a loving father/husband do just a heinous execution?'.
Buckle up boys and girls.
 
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