LAST WITNESSES TESTIFY IN MURDAUGH MURDER TRIAL
Murdaugh’s former law partner said Tuesday that he is past his anger over millions of dollars stolen from the firm, as the final witnesses in the South Carolina double murder trial testified and the court prepared to bring jurors to the scene of the killings.
Ronnie Crosby had a testy exchange with defense attorney Dick Harpootlian as prosecutors got a chance to reply to the defense’s case, including by rebutting their experts who suggested two different shooters killed Murdaugh’s wife and son.
Today , jurors will ride 40 minutes to see the sprawling Colleton County property where the Murdaughs lived. No testimony will be given and they can’t ask questions. Then they will return to the courthouse for closing arguments.
Prosecutors brought Crosby back to the stand to talk more about Murdaugh stealing millions of dollars from his clients and the firm the Murdaugh family founded more than a century ago. Prosecutors contend Murdaugh thought he was about to get caught stealing and killed 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh near kennels on June 7, 2021, to buy time to cover up the money trail.
During cross-examinaAlex tion, Harpootlian asked Crosby, who often represents accident victims, if going through trauma can cause people to forget details or get times wrong. Prosecutors have pounded Murdaugh for various inconsistencies and lies.
“You’re trying to take me somewhere you probably don’t want to,” Crosby said, starting a tense exchange between the attorneys.
“You’re angry at him for stealing your money,” Harpootlian said.
“I have had anger with him, extreme anger, Mr. Harpootlian ...” Crosby said, bristling. “But you can’t walk around with anger.”
Prosecutors also called back to the stand the pathologist who did the autopsies on the victims and their expert who studied the crime scene.
Kenneth Kinsey said a defense expert who measured the angles of the shots and concluded they were fired closer to the ground or by someone well shorter than the 6-foot-4 Murdaugh didn’t take into account the shooter and Maggie Murdaugh were both moving and the gun could have been fired from different positions.
“I think his intentions were well, but his methods were flawed,” Kinsey said.