Disgraced prominent lawyer suggested he killed his son with five crucial words, investigator says

A US particular agent has insisted he heard a doable homicide confession from disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh even after defence attorneys slowed the audio down throughout his trial.

At query is whether or not Murdaugh mentioned “I did him so bad” or “They did him so bad” as he sobbed and spoke to state brokers throughout a recorded interview three days after Murdaugh’s spouse and son had been killed.

State Law Enforcement Division Senior Special Agent Jeff Croft testified he was “100 per cent confident” Murdaugh mentioned “I”.

Alex Murdaugh cries because the homicide of his spouse and son is described by Colleton County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Daniel Greene throughout testimony in Murdaugh’s double homicide trial on the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (Joshua Boucher/The State through AP) (AP)

That may very well be interpreted as a confession from Murdaugh that he fatally shot his son Paul with a shotgun close to kennels at their Colleton County house and searching lodge on June 7, 2021.

Murdaugh’s spouse, Maggie, was shot a number of instances with a rifle and her physique was discovered close by.

Prosecutors have not defined why they’ve emphasised the remark.

“What were the things going through your mind when you heard, or misheard, ‘I did him so bad?’” defence lawyer Jim Griffin requested Croft throughout cross-examination.

“I wasn’t a good dad? I spoiled him? Or, I killed him?”

“It was definitely something we needed to follow up on,” Croft mentioned.

Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and their youngest son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found shot to death on the family's property in June 2021. — Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, 52, and their youngest son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, had been discovered shot to dying on the household’s property in June 2021. (CNN)

The agent mentioned he did not ask for clarification that day as a result of he thought it was too early within the investigation to confront Murdaugh and lose his cooperation.

Griffin requested about an interview three months later and Croft mentioned the brokers did not get to asking about that however did ask Murdaugh point-blank if he killed his spouse and son.

Griffin requested if it could be as much as the jury to determine the reality.

“They get to hear the tape and make their own mind up on what he said, yes sir,” Croft responded.

Murdaugh, 54, is standing trial on two counts of homicide within the shootings of his 52-year-old spouse and 22-year-old son.

Murdaugh faces 30 years to life in jail if convicted.

Croft’s testimony wasn’t solely about Murdaugh’s assertion.

He assisted the chief agent investigating the killings and handled a variety of proof.

Alex Murdaugh turns into emotional after seeing his household within the courtroom as opening statements start in his double homicide trial on the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C on Wednesday, January 25. (AP)

As with a lot of the primary 4 days of testimony, there have been fascinating bits and items from prosecutors, typically supplied with out additional rationalization like a $US1021.10 ($1446.70) receipt from a Gucci retailer with an merchandise circled or Maggie Murdaugh’s cell phone recovered on the aspect of the freeway a brief distance from the household’s property.

The defence used their cross-examination of Croft to attempt to poke holes in how the investigation unfolded.

Croft was requested if he knew why state brokers did not search Murdaugh’s house within the hours after the killings for soiled garments, doable blood in drains or different proof.

Croft mentioned he did not know what different brokers did.

Griffin additionally requested Croft why brokers did not search Murdaugh’s mom’s house till September — three months after the killings — although that was the one place Murdaugh mentioned he went earlier than discovering the our bodies.

“I know I did not go and I’m not sure what any of the other agents in the investigative circle had done,” Croft mentioned.

John Marvin Murdaugh and his spouse Liz Murdaugh, Brooklynn White and Buster Murdaugh, (from left) attend the opening day of Alex Murdaugh’s double homicide trial on the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C, Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (AP)

The subsequent witness referred to as up Tuesday morning testified about telephone information from Murdaugh, his spouse and son and others within the case.

That might result in one other piece of key testimony prosecutors talked about of their opening assertion — a video made by Paul Murdaugh on the kennels about 4 minutes earlier than he stopped utilizing his cell phone the place his father’s voice will be heard.

Alex Murdaugh advised police hours after the killings and repeated in Croft’s interview three days later that he wasn’t on the kennels that night time.

Murdaugh additionally faces about 100 expenses associated to accusations of cash laundering, stealing thousands and thousands from purchasers and the household regulation agency, tax evasion and attempting to get a person to fatally shoot him so his surviving son might gather a $14.2 million life insurance coverage coverage.

He was being held in jail with out bail on these counts earlier than he was charged with homicide.

Since the killings, Murdaugh’s life has seen a stunningly quick downfall.

His household dominated the authorized system in tiny neighbouring Hampton County for generations, each as prosecutors and personal attorneys identified for getting life-changing settlements for accidents and negligence instances.