Jury Voir Dire
1,666 linesMONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023
JURY PANEL ONE
JUDGE NEWMAN: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am Clifton Newman, and I am the presiding judge this week. You all have been summoned for jury duty, and the trial of the case that we're going to try this week is the case of The State v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh. In order to serve on jury duty, you must be qualified to serve, and we're going to go through the juror qualifications process at this time. The first part --
(Break in proceedings.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Madame Clerk, if you will proceed with passing out the questionnaire to the jurors?
(Break in proceedings.)
COURT CLERK: Good morning. Thank you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Hold it there for just a moment. Hold it right there.
(Break in proceedings.)
COURT CLERK: Thank you. I'm sorry.
(At this time, the jury panel was sworn.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, as I was stating, a juror questionnaire is being handed to you. I know you all have submitted another questionnaire previously. Another questionnaire is being handed to you now to complete. The reason I proceeded with placing you under oath is so that you understand you're answering and completing this questionnaire under oath. The questionnaire is a two-page questionnaire, and we need you to sign the first page and print your name and juror number on the second page. We'll take a break of about 5 minutes or so to give you an opportunity to complete this juror questionnaire. And we'll be in recess while the jury has that opportunity to work on this questionnaire.
(Break in proceedings.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, as I indicated earlier, you've been summoned for jury duty in the case of The State v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh. Mr. Murdaugh, if you will stand, face the jury panel. All right. Thank you. And we're going through the juror qualifications process, the first part of which is the roll call. You've been sworn to give complete and truthful responses throughout this process, and that extends throughout the entirety of the trial, should you be selected. We will proceed now with the roll call by the Clerk.
(Roll Call was followed by jury venire.)
JURY VOIR DIRE - PANEL ONE
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, some more questions more specific to the case we are here concerning, which is The State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander, Alex, Murdaugh. Mr. Murdaugh is charged with murdering, murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul Murdaugh on June 7, 2021, outside their home located at 4147 Moselle Road, Islandton, South Carolina. If you have heard about this case, read about this case, or know anything about this case, please stand. And what I would like for you to do is give me your juror number and juror number only, starting on this side with the young lady over here.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 148.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 203.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 43.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 45.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 185.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 39.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 75.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 110.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 11.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 22.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 59.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 55.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 95.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 30.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: , 220.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 52.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 44.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 214.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 149.
JUDGE NEWMAN: When you give me -- provide the information, please be seated. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 149.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 16.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 129.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 26.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 176.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 77.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 180.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 193.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 112.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 24.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 166.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 82.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 202.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 152.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 124.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 96.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 58.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 97.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 179.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 221.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 180.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 17.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 131.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 80.
JUDGE NEWMAN: If you did not stand for that question, please stand if you did not stand. It appears that everyone stood. With regard to those of you who have stood indicating that you have heard something about this case, I want you to now provide me the source of your information: newspaper, radio, Internet, whatever the source of your information. Give us your juror number and source of your information, starting first with Juror Number 4, I believe, or this juror. Juror number and the source of the information.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 148, and then what -- you need sources? Like, Facebook and the Internet.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 203. Crime Watch, YouTube, podcasts, and stuff like that on the Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 45. Local news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 185. Local news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 43. Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 45. Local news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 185. Local news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 39. Local news, Facebook, news, and TV special.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Number 75. Channel, Channel 5 in Charleston, TV.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 110. News.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: News, social media, and grapevine.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Juror number, please.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 11.
MR. WATERS: I'm sorry, Your Honor, could we request he say that number again? I didn't hear it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Did you say 7?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 22.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 11. One-one.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 11. All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Local news.
COURT CLERK: And your number, please.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 22.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 59. Local news, Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 55. Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 95. Supervisor and those that know the defendant.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes. Next.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 30. I hear it in my office. I'm, I'm the post master of that town that they lived in, and I hear a lot of it.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 220. Internet, Google, television.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 52. Various sources, documentaries, news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Internet, social media. I've got people that live in other countries I talk. I've seen articles in other countries that cover this case, and family because the young lady the son's accused -- the wreck and killing is actually my cousin.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And your juror number again, please.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Number 44.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 214. Local news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 149. Podcast, YouTube.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 16. News, accounts of family from the Islandton area.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 129. Local and national news, documentaries, radio.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 46, national news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 176. News, documentaries, and Facebook.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 77. News and coworkers.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 180. Facebook, podcasts, and news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 193. Internet and word of mouth.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 112. Word of mouth and Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 44. Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 166. Local news, media, friends.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 62. Internet, social media.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 202. The Internet.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 152. Local news and then the paper.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 144. All above.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 96. All of them.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 58. Local news, news breaks, and associates.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 97. Facebook and all above.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 179. Social media, news, documentaries.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 221. News Breakout.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 181. Local news, Internet, social media.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 17. All the news I can read.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 131. Local news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 80. Local newspaper and Facebook.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Based on what you have heard or been exposed to concerning this case, have you worked an opinion as to the guilt or the innocence of Mr. Murdaugh? If you have formed an opinion in your mind as to the guilt or the innocence of the defendant, please stand and tell me your juror numbers.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 44.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 30.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 220.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 52.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 139.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 16.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 166.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you and those of you indicated that you have formed an opinion concerning the guilt or the innocence of the defendant, would you be able to set aside that opinion and decide this case solely and only based on the evidence presented in this courtroom and the law as I will instruct you? If you cannot decide the case based on what is presented in the courtroom and the law as I give it to you, but you have decided the case based on opinions that you've already formed, please stand. If the opinion you've formed is so fixed that you cannot decide the case based on what's presented in the courtroom, if that's your case, situation, please stand. All right, tell me your juror number.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 52.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 52. Jury 52 will be excused. Thank you very much for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 30.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Juror Number 30, you will be excused. Thank you for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 44.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 44. Thank you, Mr. 44. You are excused. Thank you for coming. If you have been asked to participate in any media coverage regarding the defendant or his family, if you've been asked to participate in any media coverage concerning this case, concerning the defendant, or his family, if so please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: If you have expressed opinions to friends, family, coworkers, or anyone about this case, please stand. If you expressed opinions concerning this case to anyone, if so please stand. Okay, tell me your juror numbers.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 220.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 220.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 149.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 16.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 129.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 26.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 156.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 96.
JUDGE NEWMAN: If you or any member of your family of any significant others of yours, if any -- if they are related or you are related by blood or by marriage to Margaret, Maggie, Murdaugh, Paul Murdaugh, or defendant Richard Alexander Murdaugh, any of you or any significant other of yours is socially acquainted, related by blood or marriage to Maggie Murdaugh, Paul Murdaugh, or Richard Alex Murdaugh, if so please stand. All right, and your juror number, please.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 129.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 122?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 9.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And who are you related to or socially acquainted with?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Socially acquainted with. My, my brother-in-law is the Youngs family. They're very well acquainted with Randolph Murdaugh.
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, I believe the number was 129.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 129. All right, thank you, ma'am. Someone on this side? Yes, ma'am.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 180. My grandmother's side of the family are related down the line to -- they are Murdaughs down the line from his side of Murdaughs. And then my best friend for eleven years used to work in the Hampton PMPED office.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. And, ladies and gentlemen, backing up a little bit, the defendant is represented by counsel, and the State is represented by counsel. We'll have counsel introduce themselves. First the State.
MR. WATERS: Good morning, everybody. My name is Creighton Waters; I'm from the Attorney General's Office, and I will be the lead prosecutor in this case. With me is David Fernandez, another prosecutor in the office. Next to him is Savannah Goude in the office. Next to Savannah is John Meadors in the office. We have John Conrad seated over there. My boss is Don Zelenka, who's here, and then we have Johnny James sitting right there, and those are some of the attorneys that may make an appearance in this case.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And for the defense.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Dick Harpootlian. I'm an attorney from Columbia. Jim Griffin is my partner on this case; he's also from Columbia. Phil, Phil Barber works in Columbia. He is also on this case. Maggie Fox is -- works in Jim's office, and she is also on this case. That's it. Thank you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, if any of you are related by blood or marriage, socially acquainted, represented by, or have been represented by the defendant Richard Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys, Mr. Harpootlian, Mr. Griffin, Ms. Fox, Mr. Barber, or by the State, State's attorney Mr. Waters, Mr. Zelenka, Mr. Fernandez, Mr. James, and the others I'm miss -- Mr. Meadors, Mr. Conrad, and Ms. Goude, if so please stand. Or if you're acquainted with any of them or have had any representation relationship with any of them.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Does it count if Mr. Murdaugh was my employer's legal representer?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes. Tell me your juror number.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 68.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And why are you standing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Because my employer, Estill Gas, Mr. Murdaugh represented them in the past.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. As relates to the defendant, Mr. Murdaugh, if you know him, have been represented by him, or have close acquaintances who know him or were represented by him, please stand. Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: His brother represents the family. He helped me in a lot of cases.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Your juror number is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 179.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And do you believe that would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Could you repeat that?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that relationship would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you believe that you will be -- have some bias one way or the other based on that relationship?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I can't hear.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe you would have some bias?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Based on that relationship, and your juror number is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 179.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any objection to this juror being excused?
MR. WATERS: No objection from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Not on behalf of Mr. Murdaugh, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you, sir. You are excused. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 124. The Murdaugh family has represented my family in legal issues.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I missed the last part. Represented your family and?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Some legal issues.
JUDGE NEWMAN: In some legal issues, and would that affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It might.
JUDGE NEWMAN: It might? Is that relationship ongoing or not?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Well, we haven't had dealings with them for a while.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And during the course of that representation, were you involved with Mr. Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I think I did at one time.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, sir, we'll get back to you. Your juror number again is 1?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 24.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 124. Thank you. If you are or any member of your immediate family or a significant other employed with or has ever been employed with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division known as SLED, the solicitor's office of the Fourteenth Circuit, or the Attorney General's Office of the State of South Carolina, if so please stand. Yes, ma'am.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 149. My fiancé was actually on the scene.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Say it louder for me.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 149. My fiancé was actually on the scene. He works in the sheriff's office's.
MR. WATERS: This is correct. I believe that he is one of the responding officers to the scene, the fiancé.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any objection to this juror being excused?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, Your Honor.
MR. WATERS: None from the State.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you, ma'am. You'll be excused. Yes, ma'am.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: My ex brother-in-law, the police. City police and Highway Patrol.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And, ma'am, your juror number is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 80.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Would that affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Any of you or any member of your immediate family has ever been arrested by, investigated by, prosecuted by Colleton County Sheriff's Department, SLED, Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office, or the Attorney General's Office, if so please stand. If any of you or any of your immediate family members have been investigated by or arrested by or charged by or prosecuted by Colleton County Sheriff's Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, solicitor's office of this circuit, or the Attorney General's Office, if so please stand.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 166.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And, ma'am, is that an ongoing matter or a closed matter?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It's closed.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Been for years.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Would that fact affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And based on that experience, you would be biased as a juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir, I would.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And your juror number is 1?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 166.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 66. Any objection to this juror being excused?
MR. WATERS: No objection from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: None from Mr. Murdaugh.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you, ma'am. You are excused. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 80. My spouse.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What about your spouse?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: He was investigated.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And by which agency?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Sheriff's department.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And would that fact affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. Yes, sir, in the back?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 26. 2015 I was arrested and charged.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You were?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 26. Yeah, I was, yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And by which agency?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Sheriff's department, sheriff's office right here in town.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And would that fact affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I don't think so, Judge.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Thank you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror Number 95. My son. It's not recently, and, no, it won't affect me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. If any of you or any of your immediate family member or a significant other has ever been employed by or represented by the firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, and Detrick or the Parker Law Group, or if you've ever attended any functions or events, parties, hunts, raffles, gatherings, or anything of a similar nature hosted by the firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, and Detrick or by Mr. Alex Murdaugh or his family, if so please stand. If you have ever been represented by the firm that I mentioned, the firms that I mentioned, or been sued by, attended any functions, events, parties, hunts, giveaways, raffles, gatherings, or any similar events hosted by the firm, firms, or Mr. Murdaugh, or any of their respective families, if so please stand. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah. He, he sued my father.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir, and your juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 203.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you believe that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I do.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you would be biased as a juror because of that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, any objection to 203 being excused?
MR. WATERS: Based on the responses, no, sir.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No objection.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you, Number 203. You are excused. Yes, ma'am, in the back.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I attended a, I guess, an engagement type party at Mr. Murdaugh's practice.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ma'am, would that fact affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, what's the number?
JUDGE NEWMAN: 129?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 129.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 129. Ladies and gentlemen, let's all stand for a moment and stretch.
(Break in proceedings.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. If you will come back to order. All right, ladies and gentlemen, if you have any religious beliefs or otherwise that would prevent you from sitting on a jury and deciding this case based on the evidence and the law, if you are prevented by any religious beliefs from doing so, if so please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: If you know of any reason why you cannot serve as a fair and impartial juror in this case and give both the State and the defendant a fair trial, if you know of any reason whatsoever why you should not be required or chosen to be seated on the jury, if so please stand. No one is standing. Ladies and gentlemen, there are many witnesses, prospective witnesses, people who might testify, and I'm going to read this list. If any of these prospective witnesses are here, we'd like you to stand so the jury can see you. At the end, I need to know whether or not you are acquainted with any of these of prospective witnesses. Daniel Greene from the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. Chad McDowell from the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. William Cody Pruitt, formerly of the sheriff's office. Tinish Bryson Smith from Hampton County Dispatch. Angela Stallings from Colleton County Dispatch. Dispatcher. Dathan Varnadoe from the sheriff's office. Charlie Jones, CCRF (sic). Is that fire and rescue? Fire and rescue, Colleton County Fire and Rescue. Berry McRoy, Colleton County Fire And Rescue. Melinda Worley for SLED. Laura Rutland, sheriff's office. The following people work at SLED. Thomas Darnell. Rachel Nguyen. Paul Greer. Madison Willis. Julia Begeman. Olivia Cartwright. Rachel Noelle Johnson. Christine Dadabo. Jeff Croft. Katie McCallister. Then not-SLED employee. Norris Laffitte. Claude C.B. Rowe. Roger Dale Davis. Mushelle Shelley Smith. Belinda Rast. MaeLynn Haynes. Barbara Mixon. Also from SLED, Christian Moore. Jennifer Nates. Sara Zapata. Kukila KiKi Wallace. Megan Fletcher. Britt Dove. Rebecca Gregg. Bobby Bancroft. Brian Hudak. Todd Schnek -- Schenk. Then Jonathan VanHouten from the US Secret Service, is it?
MR. WATERS: Yes, sir, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: US Secret Service. Paul McManigle from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Dylan Hightower from the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office. Tom Bevel. John Bedingfield. Nathan Tuten. Nolen Tuten. Willis Wills Chapman. Marian Proctor. Chris Wilson, attorney. Lee Cope, attorney. Mark Tinsley, attorney. Michael Gunn, attorney. Johnny Parker, attorney. Carson Burney, South Carolina Attorney General's Office. Jan Malinowski. Carey Sauls. Eric Harriott. Ryan Kelly from SLED. From EMS for Hampton County, Andrew Farmer. Charles Long, formerly, formerly of the Hampton County EMS. Curtis Eddie Smith. Attorney Mark Ball. Attorney Ronnie Crosby. Attorney Danny Henderson. Matt Wright from SLED. Savannah Hospital records custodian Jessica Dunivan, a registered nurse at Savannah Hospital. Tommy Robertson from SLED. Kenneth Martin. What is BGA?
MR. WATERS: Bevel, Gardner, and Associates, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Say that again.
MR. WATERS: Bevel, Gardner, and Associates, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Bevel, Gardner, and Associates, out of state. Sydney Freeman. Hunter Wilson. Bailey Wilson. Colleton County Sheriff's Office, Alex -- Anthony Russell. From SLED, Joshua Duerkp. Lynn Black. Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson. Kenneth Kenny Hughes. Rogan Gibson. Will Loving. Bart Proctor. Randy Murdaugh. Jeannie Seckinger. Annette Griswold. Peter Rudofski of SLED. Alfred Johnson from JLA Investigations. David Grubbs from the Attorney General's Office. Demi Garvin from the Forensic Science Network. Kenny Kinsey, Orangeburg County Sheriff's Department. From SLED, Dave Owens (sic). Charles Ghent. Ryan McNeill (sic). Attorney General's Office, Oswaldo Toledo. Jason Chapman of the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. Greg Cook from SLED. Courtney Adams. Jomar Albayalde. Mitchell Altman. Steven Bechtold. Alice Hazel, a CPA. Mark Altman, IT, PSB. Attorney Eric Bland. From SLED, Matt Brown. Frank Chapman. Charles Chapman from SLED. Dalila Cirencione and Timothy Collier, Sr.
From Highway Patrol, John Conley. Varnville Fire Department, Tyrone Corbin. Colleton County Sheriff's Office, Keith Crosby. Gary Davis. Mary Dempsey. Richard Dixon. Morgan Doughty. Nancy Drawdy, county sheriff's office. Richard Haley. Coroner Deputy David Drawdy. Donna Eason. Ashlynn Gantt. From SLED, Haley Godley. Virginia Hadwin from SLED. Jamie Hall. Scott Harriott. Richard Harvey from the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. From SLED, Laura Hash. Bailey Haynes. Michael Hazel. William Headden. From SLED, Adrienne Hefney. Gray Laffitte Henderson. From the Hampton County Sheriff's Office, Kendrell Henderson. From SLED, Marcus Heyward. Clarendon -- Colleton County Sheriff's Office Guerry Buddy Hill. SLED, Tommy Hines. Jonathan Holdbrook. Chandler Horney. Graham Holmes. Steven Hudson. From SLED, Jennifer Huntun. William Hutto. Highway Patrol person, Jessea James. Kristi Jarrell. From SLED, Hannah Jefferson. Blake Jefferson. Byron (sic) Jones.
From SLED, Pat Keegan. Wayne Kirby, III. Tommy Kinard. Tonya King. Richard Kneece, Jr. From the FBI, Mark Labreche. Henry Laffitte. Rebecca Laffitte, attorney Rebecca Laffitte. Paul LaRosa from SLED. Stacey Loadholt from the sheriff's office. David Long, the sheriff's office. Elizabeth Laffitte Malinowski. Vera Martinez from SLED. Linda McAlhaney. William McElveen. Leigh McGuinness. From SLED, Jaclynn McKay. Haley Moody. From SLED, John Nelson. Haley Nelson from SLED. John Peters. William Polk from the sheriff's office. Captain Samuel Reighley from SLED. Kashyap Patel. Emily Reinhart from SLED. Dr. Ellen Riemer, MUSC pathologist. George Rioux, R-i-o-u-x, sheriff's office. Major Tommy Robertson from SLED. Diane Rowe. Walter Salisbury. Anthony Sampson from SLED. Christopher Sarine, fire and rescue. Michael Tommy Satterfield. Jerry Smith of SLED. Caleigh Smoak. James Tallon, III, and Dana Temple of SLED. Courtney Thompson. From DHEC, Chelsea Townsend.
Phil -- Phillip Turner from SLED. Dr. Luis Vega. Russell Vernali from SLED. Tammy Weber. Glen Welcker. Chad Westendorf. Samuel White, the Hampton County Sheriff's Office. Lawrence Wiggins, formerly of SLED. From the FBI, Matt Wild. SLED, David Williams. From fire and rescue, Matthew Williams. Madison Willis from SLED. From Savannah Memorial Hospital the following: Dr. William Bromberg, Caitlyn Bowman, Dr. Karie Jeter, Alice Dionne, Dr. Brandon Runyan, Dr. Brenna Casey, Dr. James Mitchell, Dr. Brittany Matthews. Also from SLED, Lesa Chapman. Bailey Morgan. Margaret Pauli. SLED continued, Haley Fiorucci. Jennifer Hunton. Lonnie Nettles from the sheriff's office. David Weaver from SLED. Al Jarvis from SLED. Also Christopher Anderson. Arthur Badger. Johnny Bush. James Randall Drawdy. Angel Gary. Jordan Jinks. Damien Risher. Elease Taylor Mallory. Deon Martin. Thomas Moore. Pamela Pinckney. Natarsha Thomas. Buster Murdaugh. John Marvin Murdaugh. Liz Murdaugh.
Kennedy Branstetter. Terry Branstetter. Marian Branstetter. Russell Laffitte. Jay McGill. Joseph Dingle. Scott O'Quinn. Charles Laffitte, II, and III. Harold Trey Mathisen, III. Meagan Kimbrell. Terry Haynes. Kyna Treherme, T-r-e-h-e-r-m-e. Attorney Ann (sic) Bower. SLED Stanley -- Stephanie Stanley. Dr. Robert Cotton. Pathologist, Dr. Jonathan Eisenstat. Crime scene analysis, Tim Palmbach. Crime scene exhibit examination, Mike Sutton. Kenneth Zerci, crime scene reconstruction. Jim Persinger, computer forensics. Chip Johnson, computer and phone forensics, forensics. William Tobin, GSR firearms and ballistics. Micah Sturgis, Cellebrite digital evidence. Dr. Amy Broduer, BPA CSI. Lynn Murdaugh Goettee, G-o-e-t-t-e-e. Dr. Donna Schwartz Maddox, psychologist. Eric Robinson. Kyla Robinson.
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, can I approach real quick?
(A bench conference was held.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, Philip Strother from Hampton and Dwight Falkofske, F-a-l-o -- F-a-l-k-o-f-s-k-e from the FBI. As relates to any of those people, if you are a friend, relative, associate, acquaintance of any of them, please stand. All right, and tell me the basis for your standing. First, with the gentleman, your juror number, and why you're standing.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 43. Charles Long is my cousin.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Say again.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 43. Charles Long is my cousin.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Cousin, and should your cousin testify, would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It might.
JUDGE NEWMAN: It just might. All right. Well, we'll talk with you a little further in a minute. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror Number 85. Law enforcement from Colleton County and Agent Smith is an acquaintance from years back.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And should they testify, would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 39. I have a social acquaintance with Chad Westendorf. I think he's at the sheriff's department. He's a friend, and my son is or was a friend of Buster Murdaugh.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 110. Dr. Luis Vega was my supervising provider from 2020 to 2021.
JUDGE NEWMAN: A little louder, please.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Dr. Luis Vega was my supervising provider from 2020 to 2021.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And should he testify --
MR. WATERS: Could she repeat her number again?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Your number again?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 110.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 110. Thank you, and should Dr. Vega testify, would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 59. I have met Angela Stallings, Norris Laffitte, and Buddy Hill, and I know Barry McRoy pretty well. Followed him for a long time with the fire department, and now I also work there part-time as a fire fighter.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 55. I went to school with Morgan Doughty and I'm very close friends with her younger sister.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Close friends with who?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: With her younger sister Allie.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And your juror number one more time?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 55.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 55, and would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Possibly.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. We will speak with you further. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 16. Tavara was the police chief when I was serving as counsel. It would not affect me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir. 26. I know Jerry Cord. I know a few of them. Jason Chapman. It definitely would affect my ability to be impartial.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror Number 181. I've been in plaintiff's on -- a couple months with Mr. Norris Laffitte and Mark Tinsley years ago. I would not be partial -- I mean, I --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Would not affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: That would not affect my ability to serve.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Number 58. There's two officers that are customers at my place of employment, and it will not affect my ability.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Number 162. I think you said the name Jordan James. That's -- his sister's married to my son, and, no, that won't affect me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror Number 80. I'm a plaintiff with Richard Harvey through work, and that would not affect me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. And, ladies and gentlemen, having gone through this whole battery of questions, at this point in time, in reflecting on all of the questions I've asked you, if you know of any reason why you cannot serve as a fair and impartial juror, please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any additional questions proposed by the State or the defense?
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Nothing from Mr. Murdaugh, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. So, this panel is now qualified. The question then is what next with this group?
MR. GRIFFIN: May we approach, Your Honor?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes.
(A bench conference was held.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: We need Juror Number 43 to come forward, Juror Number 55 to come forward. Any other jurors? Number 26 to come forward, and if you all will come forward and just, just stay where you are for a moment there. We just want to identify you. All the other jurors, you are qualified. We're going to excuse you for the remainder of this day. We need you to call in to the number that the Clerk, Becky Hill, and her staff has provided for you to use. I didn't fully introduce all the Clerk, the Clerk and her staff. Becky Hill, the Clerk Of Court is here in Colleton County, and Lori -- is that Wiese? Where is she?
COURT CLERK: She just went back downstairs.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Oh, is she the one doing the calling sitting right there, Ms. Lori Wiese? Sherrie Robinson right here. Our court reporter is Elizabeth Harris, who takes down everything that's being said. She's over here, as well as Mike Watkins over here. If you have questions or issues, you address them to clerks, the Clerk's staff, or bailiffs designated to respond to questions, but do not engage in any way with any of the lawyers or any of the witnesses or participants in the case. So, we will have you -- we have several groups coming in just like your group. We have three or four groups coming, and we hope at the end of that process of going through all of the groups to come up with one final group out of which we will select the jury. So, we need you all to call back after 6 p.m. today. Not before 6 p.m. After 6 p.m. There will be a message on the recorded line telling you what time to call back tomorrow or what time to come back tomorrow. It's our hope that you might be able to come back around 4 p.m. tomorrow. We don't know that. That's why we need to have you call in to find out whether you need to come back about 4 tomorrow or the next day. We'll have a message for you giving you further information. Thank you very much for all of your cooperation. Aside from the jurors I mentioned, the rest of you are excused. Mr. Waters, before you go, yes.
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, I apologize. I believe in going through the, the colloquy we just did, also 124 was one that you mentioned that we wanted to have a discussion with. And additionally, the State would also request that Juror Number 221 remain behind for a discussion with Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So far I have 43, 55, 26, 221, 224. Any requested by the defense?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, Your Honor. Nothing further.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and aside from those jurors, we will see the others of you later. Thank you very much. Have a good day. Yes, sir. One moment, jurors.
MR. GRIFFIN: Would you mind instructing them about reading?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes. Thank you. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, once you have become a part of the jury pool, then you are to not engage in any form of personal investigation, exposure. You're not to read, discuss, seek to inquire, any information concerning this case, and you are not to discuss it with any other jurors or anyone else, and we will give you a greater, more detailed instruction concerning that should you be selected on the jury. Anything else requested?
MR. GRIFFIN: No, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you all.
(The remaining jury panel left the courtroom.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Out of the jurors that we had to stay with us, we want you all to come up one at a time. First, Juror Number 26.
(At this time, individual voir dire was conducted with the following jurors outside the courtroom. Discussion with Juror Number 26 began before court reporter was in place.)
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: -- personal injury.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: And that was a case you were involved in?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I was.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: So, you were arrested?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I was. Voluntarily, Chapman kind of testified against me falsely. It didn't stick, didn't get prosecuted, but I knew the man personally and after that, it became personal.
MR. WATERS: And you think that's going to -- Sorry, Your Honor.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I haven't talked to him since 2015 obviously since then. Yeah, yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: But you believe it would affect your ability to be ---
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: If he's vital in this case, it probably will.
MR. WATERS: He, he was -- well, he was the supervising Colleton officer on the scene.
MR. MEADORS: Judge, I thought I heard his response saying I could never be fair when you said his name. That's what, what I heard earlier. That would be a problem. I thought that was his initial response.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I would be absolutely impartial with anything Chapman said.
MR. WATERS: And he was in charge of the scene until it was released to SLED.
JUDGE NEWMAN: People mix up that word sometimes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, I want to be absolutely ---
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I will be impartial with just Chapman. I will be.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Is that the right word? Is it impartial or partial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I will be partial. Excuse me, Judge, yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You'll be partial, and that would be partial against anything he said?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. All right. Anything else for this witness?
MR. GRIFFIN: No, sir.
MR. WATERS: No questions, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. We usually have them stand in a corner while we talk about them.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I can step down the stairs.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: I don't think we have any objection.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, we're not going to put you through that. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: We will release you from jury duty. You can mosey on.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Thank you, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Good luck to you.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Bring the next one, 43.
COURT BAILIFF: Number 43.
(Juror Number 43 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I didn't say it earlier. My family is involved with the lawsuit with the Murdaugh suit. Mallory Beach was my cousin.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You don't think this is a good case for you to be a juror on?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Oh, it might. I ain't going to say yeah, no.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, your family is suing the Murdaughs?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: She was in the boat wreck, the one that got killed, Mallory.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And how close a cousin is she to you?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I was more closer with her daddy and brother and his brothers.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Right. Any ---
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: We wouldn't object to excusing him.
MR. WATERS: I'll leave that to the court's discretion, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: We'll excuse you. We have plenty of people so far. All right, thank you very much for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: All right, sir.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Next one, 55.
COURT BAILIFF: 55.
(Juror Number 55 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Come on in the center, let's talk to you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Hey.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, how are you? How old are you?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Nineteen.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Nineteen. Okay. You stood up and said you were related to somebody or something. What did you say?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I went to -- I went to the same school Morgan Doughty went to. I'm really close with Morgan's younger sister Allie.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Morgan's younger sister?
MR. WATERS: Morgan was ---
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: She also has a lawsuit.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, and so you're pretty closely connected with the people who were affected?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You believe that would affect your being able to be on this jury?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You nervous?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You've never done this before. You're nineteen. That's understandable.
MR. WATERS: We would accept ---
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: After she just said she couldn't most likely --
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, I'm not going to put you through that. We'll let you go.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Okay.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you very much. I'll excuse you.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: 124.
(Break in proceedings.)
(Juror Number 124 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, Number 124, how are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: All right.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. We want to ask you some questions concerning whether or not you should be a juror. You said that you were previously ---
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Your Honor. The Capers family is affiliated with the Murdaugh family, and this incident happened 2 and a half miles from my house, so they know my family real good.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You live in Islandton?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And do you believe you're too closely connected to be a fair and impartial juror or what's your thinking?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Really, it could have some effect because I know Buster, Randolph Murdaugh, and all those. I know them all, and my grandmother used to babysit them.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Used to babysit all of them?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: The children, yeah, yeah. I think so, yeah.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Your Honor. I think the question is -- I mean, this is a small community. In spite of that, could he be fair? Could he put all that out and base his verdict on what he hears in the courtroom and, and the law as you give it to him. That's basically the question.
MR. WATERS: Which I think he just said, just like the one we had in here just a minute ago. He, he said that.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You think you can put aside all that history that you just cited and decide the case solely cased on what you hear in the courtroom?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I, I can. I can.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You think you can?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I can. I could do that.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Did he say he can or can't?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Okay. The mask, I couldn't him.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: I'm sorry, and I'm a little deaf.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe despite all the relationships and all you can be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You can?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I can.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, any other questions for this juror?
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you very much. Call in after 6.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Okay.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Next one, 221. So after we do this -- after this, we've got this other group we're going to have come in, do a half an hour worth of talking to.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Barely enough time to maybe do the roll call.
(Juror Number 221 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir, how are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Good. How are you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. I think you -- did you say you were related to the Murdaughs or someone? Megan?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: She ain't related. They just got the same last name. They ain't in the same family.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Megan Murdaugh is not related to you at all?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes. Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And do you know of any reason you cannot be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: On the question of whether you've ever been arrested by, charged with anything by Colleton County Sheriff's Office, SLED, anyone.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I've been arrested by, not charged.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Arrested?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: They didn't charge me with it at court. The court got dismissed, and it got tooken off my record.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You got it expunged?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Let's see what you got here.
MR. WATERS: Look on the second page. Second page. Can I ask you what year that was? Is that okay?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Not a hundred percent sure. I don't remember.
MR. WATERS: Four or five years ago, something like that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Maybe even longer than that.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And that charge, was it here in this town? Was that Walterboro?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Cottageville.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Cottageville. Did you have to come to court?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I did come to court but ---
JUDGE NEWMAN: Right here in this courtroom?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah, but then they ain't never had a session. They just did, like, roll call.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you know who your prosecutor was?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I have no idea.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You had a roll call?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah. I've been to, like, three roll calls.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Three roll calls, and then the charges were dismissed?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Then you got it expunged?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir. It's supposed to be expunged.
JUDGE NEWMAN: The charge was CSC with a minor?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And do you know of any reason you cannot be fair and impartial in this case?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And any other questions?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, sir.
MR. WATERS: Nothing further from the State, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, I need you to call back after 6 to find out what time to come back.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: All right. Thank you.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
MR. GRIFFIN: That's it?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: That's it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I guess we'll come back in there.
(All parties returned to the courtroom.)
(Break in proceedings.)
JURY PANEL TWO
JUDGE NEWMAN: Good afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, I am Clifton Newman, and I am presiding in court here this week. You've been summoned here for jury duty in this case of State v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh. Mr. Murdaugh, if you will stand and face the jury panel. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, in order to serve on jury duty, you must be qualified to serve. We are running behind schedule due to the volume, the number of people we're dealing with. So, what we're going to do is to do the roll call, then take a break for lunch, then come back, and there are a lot of questions I need to ask you all to determination your qualifications to serve and determination who will be in the pool of jurors that we'll be selecting the jury from. As part of the roll call process, it's necessary that an oath be administered to you. Then once you've been called and brought into court on jury duty, you're not allowed to talk with each other or anybody else about the case. You must give complete and truthful responses to all questions you are asked during this process. We're going to proceed with the roll call so that we can then take lunch. If you will give the Clerk your attention, your very fine Clerk of Court here in Colleton County, Ms. Becky Hill. She is ably assisted by her deputy clerks, Ms. Sherrie Robinson, Ms. Lori Wiese. And we'll proceed, Ms. Hill.
COURT CLERK: Thank you for coming, for waiting, for being here ready, willing to serve. I'm going to call your jury number out. Do not call out any names, and when I call your number out, just stand. If you have a mask on, please take it off for that particular time that you're going to be talking. You need to speak loudly, speak slowly, and if we still can't hear, I will ask you to come up to the podium up here. So, please, if you want to stay where you are, then speak loudly for me.
(Whereupon, the Clerk called the roll.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to break for lunch, have you come back at 2:30. And the juror who is here for 4:30, I believe, are you disabled?
COURT CLERK: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, you will -- you will not -- do not need to come back during the 4:30, disabled, (YES). And the juror in the back, what is your disability, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I've had a kidney transplant. I've had a kidney transplant.
COURT CLERK: He's had a kidney transplant.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you are disabled and can't serve on jury duty?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I, I need to do blood work --
COURT CLERK: If you could take your mask --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm missing --
COURT CLERK: -- down, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: -- blood work to be here.
MR. WATERS: He said he's missing blood work to be here.
JUDGE NEWMAN: We're going to excuse you as well. The two of you will not have to come back. Have you got his juror number? Any other, any other disabled jurors? Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm currently on disability. This is a notice for my back, but the more significant issue is that I have narcolepsy.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Your juror number is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 383.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, Number 383, you will not have to come back. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: On disability, but I'm also the primary caregiver for my eighty-five year-old mother.
COURT CLERK: And what's your number, sir?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Your juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 284.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, number 284 will not have to come back. We'll break for lunch. All other jurors need to be back at 2:30. Please do not discuss the case at all with any -- or engage with anyone else connected with the case.
(The jury panel exited the courtroom.)
(A break was taken.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sir, come on now.
MR. WATERS: Now what's the number, Your Honor?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 363.
COURT CLERK: 363.
MR. WATERS: Yes, sir, we have him marked as a DQ on the rap.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm a primary caregiver for my elderly parents, and I'm also a convicted felon. Do I need to come back?
JUDGE NEWMAN: No.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Thank you.
(A lunch break was taken.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, when you're given a time to return, it's not an estimated time. You need to adhere to the Court's instructions. You were to return at 2:30. We’ve got three jurors late.
(Whereupon, jury venire was conducted.)
JURY VOIR DIRE - PANEL TWO
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I have some more specific questions that I'll ask you pertaining specifically to this case. The defendant, Alex Murdaugh, also Richard Alexander, also known as Richard Alexander Murdaugh, has been charged with murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, on June 7, 2021, outside their home located at 4147 Moselle Road, Islandton, South Carolina. If you have heard about this case, read about this case, or know anything about this case, please stand. If you have heard anything about this case, know anything about this case, please stand. All right, and just give me your juror numbers and then you may be seated. Starting here.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 349.
JUDGE NEWMAN: When you give it, you may be seated. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 303.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 294.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 394.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 240.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 228.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 306.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 439.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 441.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 403.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 337.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 251.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 254.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 319.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 257.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 358.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 351.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 282.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 343.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 338.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 390.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 226.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 266.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 384.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 446.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 398.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 278.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 346.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 370.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 367.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 255.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 397.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 432.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 396.
JUDGE NEWMAN: If you did not stand in response to the last question, please stand. Meaning if you have, have not heard anything about this case, read anything about this case, or know anything about this case, if so please stand and tell us your juror numbers.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 244.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 374.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 258.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 400.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 336.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 326.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. For those of you who have indicated that you've heard something, read something, or know something about this case, I need to know the source of your information. And I don't need any details from you concerning anything other than to tell me whether you heard or know something about the case based on news articles, television, radio, podcast, personal conversation, or the like. So, tell me -- if you'll stand, give me your juror number, and tell me your source of information about this case. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 349. I watched a documentary on Dateline, and I also saw something on Fox Network. And just regular -- the evening news basically.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 303. Just local newspaper and evening news.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It was just a -- not really conversation, but my mom mentioned the name. I heard that name before.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And your juror number is?
COURT CLERK: 294.
JUDGE NEWMAN: It's on your tag. 294.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 394. Just on the news.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 258. Someone called me on the phone and asked me if I know anything and I said I did not.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You told them you did not know anything about it?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Did not know.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you didn't stand before, so you still don't know anything about him?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Sir?
JUDGE NEWMAN: I said you did not stand before --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Oh, I'm sorry.
JUDGE NEWMAN: -- so you have not -- you said you didn't know or hadn't heard anything about it. Now you're standing and saying someone called you about it. Is that right?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: They called and asked me if I knew anything and I said no.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I understand. Thank you. Over on this side.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 240. Just local news headlines, et cetera.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 228. News and family members.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 306. News.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 439. My husband had the documentary on TV while I was fixing dinner, so I know that --
JUDGE NEWMAN: I don't need to know what you know, just tell me what you know, the source of information.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Documentary and gossip at work, and --
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249. Personal conversation and podcast.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. Anyone else on this side?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 441. The news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 255.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Just a moment. Let's start on the front and then go from one row heading back.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 403. Just news articles and the evening news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 337. News.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 251. Just news and computer.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 254. Documentary.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 319. Friends and family.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 257. Local news and personal conversation.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 358, news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 351. TV news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 282. Local TV and news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 343. The local news and the podcast.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 338. Local news, national news, and personal conversations.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 390. News, Facebook articles, and podcast.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 266. News.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 384. Local news and various documentaries on YouTube.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 446. Facebook, podcast, documentaries, and word of mouth.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 398. Documentaries and local news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 278. News, local paper.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 346. News.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 370. The news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 367. News.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 255. News.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 397. The documentary, news, word of mouth.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 432. News, word of mouth.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 396. Facebook articles and personal conversation.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Considering everything that you have read, heard, and conversations with others, if you have formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Murdaugh regarding the murder charges of which he's on trial, if you have formed an opinion concerning his guilt or innocence, if you have, please stand and tell me your juror numbers. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 439.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 403.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 337.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 251.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 254.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 343.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 266.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 370.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 367.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 255.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 397.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 396.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, jurors can decide cases based on evidence presented in court, applying the law as given it -- to you by the judge, by me. Having formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant, if you will be unable, not capable of setting aside that -- those opinions and deciding the case solely based on the evidence presented in the court and the law as I give it to you, if so, please stand. If you -- your opinion is so fixed that you've formed that you'll be unable to decide the case solely based on the evidence presented, that you'll decide it based on the opinion you already have, if that's your case, please stand. All right, and tell us your juror numbers if you're standing.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 439.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And if you all will remain standing. 439.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 249. We start at the front and go back.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 403.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 403.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 251.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 266.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 397.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 255.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Are there any objections to those jurors being excused?
MR. WATERS: May we approach, Your Honor?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes.
(A bench conference was held.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you all, ladies and gentlemen. We will have you remain with us, and we will speak further with you in a bit. If any member of the jury panel is personally acquainted with the defendant, Alex Murdaugh, you've been represented by him in the past, you're a personal acquaintance or friend of his, if so, please stand. And tell me your juror number, please.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 446.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And, ma'am, would that fact affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I think so.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Any objection to this juror being excused?
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Your Honor, I think you should treat this juror the same way as the group we just talked about.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. We'll speak with you further, ma'am.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Thank you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Backing up. Ladies and gentlemen, both the State and the defense are represented by counsel and we would have them introduce themselves.
MR. WATERS: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Creighton Waters. I'm from the Attorney General's Office, and I'll be the lead prosecutor in the case against Alex Murdaugh over there. With me is a team of prosecutors. Right here I have David Fernandez. Next to him is Savannah Goude. Next to her is Johnny James. Sitting over there in the bench we have John Conrad. We have my boss, Don Zelenka. We have John Meadors back in the back row. But that will be the prosecutorial team that you may hear from if you get selected to serve in this case. Thank you, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Please the Court, Your Honor? My name is Dick Harpootlian; I'm a lawyer in Columbia. I will be defending Alex Murdaugh, along with Jim Griffin, also an attorney in Columbia. With us also is Phillip Barber in Columbia, he works in my firm, and Margaret Fox, who practices with Jim Griffin. Thank you for being here today.
JUDGE NEWMAN: If any juror is related by blood or marriage, or socially acquainted with, or have any type relationship with any of the lawyers, or have been represented by any of the lawyers currently or in the past, if so, please stand. If any member of the jury panel or your -- any member of your immediate family or significant other is employed with, or has ever been employed with a Colleton County Sheriff's Department, the State Law Enforcement Division, SLED, solicitor's office for the Fourteenth Circuit, or the Attorney General's Office of the State of South Carolina, if so please stand. Yes, sir, tell me your juror number.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 280.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And tell me why you're standing.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I have a family member with SLED and Colleton County.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Would that fact affect your ability to be fair and impartial if your -- the agency which your family member is employed with should testify?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You said it --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: It would affect your ability?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Do you believe that you could be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. If you'll stay with us.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 390. My husband was employed with Colleton County Sheriff's Office in 2010.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Number 338. I have a family member who is currently employed with the Colleton County Sheriff's Department and is going to be testifying in the trial.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And that person's name is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Sergeant Daniel Greene.
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, this -- yeah, this particular juror is related to a witness in the trial, and because of that connection, the State would recognize the fact that she needs to be excused in this case. Thank you for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: What did he say? And I didn't hear what you said.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Don't worry, ma'am. Yes, what says the defense?
MR. GRIFFIN: We agree, Your Honor. She was on our agreed upon list previously.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Ma'am, you are excused. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 446. My mom worked for Mr. Randolph that worked for the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Your mother worked where?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office for Mr. Randolph.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Is currently or formerly?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: She did.
JUDGE NEWMAN: When was that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: About ten years maybe.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you believe that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and juror number one more time, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 446.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. 446 is excused. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror Number 398. My mother worked with the Fourteenth Judicial Solicitor's Office, and she is the Clerk of Court here.
JUDGE NEWMAN: She's the what?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Clerk of Court.
JUDGE NEWMAN: The Clerk of Court.
COURT CLERK: She would make a good juror, Judge. We don't talk a whole lot.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that would affect your ability to be a fair an impartial juror?
COURT CLERK: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Then stay with us at this time. If you or any member of your immediate family or significant other is employed with, has ever been investigated by, or arrested and charged by, or prosecuted by the Colleton County Sheriff's Department, SLED, solicitor's office in the Fourteenth Circuit, or the Attorney General's Office, if so, please stand. If any of you or any immediate family members of yours or significant others worked for, investigated by, arrested by, charged by, or prosecuted by the Colleton County Sheriff's Department, SLED, solicitor's office, or Attorney General's Office, if so, please stand. All right, tell me your juror number and the basis for your standing. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 282. My daughter, who was involved with drugs, and child endangerment. As part of that, DSS got involved.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial in this case?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: My son was charged in Colleton County as a juvenile.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial in this case?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And what is your juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 390.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I was investigated for armed robbery. Juror 432.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Say that juror number loud and clear.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror 432.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 432. Do you believe that would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah, pretty much.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Based on your experience, are you telling me you cannot be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Honestly, no.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You're kind of mumbling. You have to talk loud for me.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Honestly, no.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You cannot be fair and impartial. Is that right?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. So, Juror Number 432 is excused. Thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Number 403. When I was in law enforcement, another officer did something he shouldn't have on a case that we were working, and I ended -- I was questioned by SLED. The case was not directed towards me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, not that.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you for telling us. If any of you or any member of your immediate family or significant others have been employed by law firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick, or the Parker Law Group, if so, please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: If any juror has been represented by Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick, or Parker Law Group, or have been sued or is being sued, or has ever been sued by someone working for those law groups, if so, please stand. If you have ever attended any function, events, parties, giveaways, raffles, gatherings, or any related activities sponsored by Alex Murdaugh, or the law firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, and Detrick, or if you have any personal or professional relationship with Mr. Murdaugh, or his family, or the firms, if so, please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: If you have any religious belief or otherwise that would prevent you from determining the guilt or the innocence of the defendant based on the evidence presented in court, if so, please stand. All right, yes, sir. Tell me the basis for -- your juror number, and tell me why you're standing.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249. And it's a personal belief that I don't feel like I have the right to judge a stranger --
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and your juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 249.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 249. All right. We'll speak further with you in a few minutes. Based on the questions asked thus far, if you know of any reason why you cannot serve as a fair and impartial juror in this case and give both the State and the defendant a fair trial, if so, please stand. All right. No one is standing. Ladies and gentlemen, there are a long list of people who may testify as witnesses in this case, so I need you to listen closely and tell me if you are familiar with any of these witnesses.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Your Honor, may Mr. Waters and I approach?
(A bench conference was held.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, I will need to know if you know any of these prospective witnesses, have had any association with them, and the like. Daniel Greene from the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. Chad McDowell, sheriff's office. William Cody Pruitt, sheriff's office. Tinish Bryson-Smith, Hampton County Dispatch. Angela Stallings, Colleton County dispatcher. Dathan Varnadoe, sheriff's office. Charlie Jones. Barry McRoy, the county fire and rescue. From SLED, Melinda Worley. Thomas Darnell. Rachel Nguyen. Paul Griffin. Madison Willis. Julia Begeman. Olivia Cartwright. Rachel Noelle Johnson. Christine Dadabo. Norris Laffitte. Laura Rutland from the sheriff's office. Jeff Croft from SLED. Katie McCallister from SLED. Claude C.B. Rowe. Roger Dale Davis. Mushelle Shelley Smith. From SLED, Christian Moore. Jennifer Nates. Then Belinda Rast. MaeLynn Haynes. Barbara Mixon. From SLED, Sara Zapata. Kukila KiKi Wallace from SLED. Megan Fletcher from SLED. Britt Dove from SLED. Jonathan VanHouten from the US Secret Service. Paul McManigal from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Rebecca Gregg from SLED. Bobby Bancroft from SLED. Dylan Hightower from the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office. Dwight Falkofske from the FBI. Brian Hudak from SLED. Tom Bevel. John Bedingfield. Nathan Tuten. Nolen Tuten. Willis Wills Chapman. Marian Proctor. Todd Schenk SLED. Chris Wilson, attorney. Attorney Lee Cope. Attorney Mark Tinsley. Carson Burney from the Attorney General's Office. Attorney Michael Gunn. Attorney Johnny Parker. I said attorney Michael Gunn. Is he a lawyer?
MR. WATERS: No, sir, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Michael Gunn is not a lawyer. Thank you. Jan Malinowski. Carey Sauls. Eric Harriott. Ryan Kelly with SLED. Andrew Farmer and Charles Long, formerly of Hampton County EMS. Curtis Eddie Smith. Attorney Mark Ball. Matt Wright with SLED. Attorney Ronnie Crosby. Attorney Danny Henderson. Representative -- custodial records representative at Savannah Hospital. Jessica Dunivan, a registered nurse at Savannah Hospital. Tommy Robertson from SLED. Kenneth Martin, BGA. What's that?
MR. WATERS: Bevel, Gardner, and Associates, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sydney Freeman. Hunter Wilson. Bailey Wilson. Anthony Russell, sheriff's office. Joshua Duerkp, SLED. Lynn Black from SLED. Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson. Kenny Hughes. Rogan Gibson. Will Loving. Bart Proctor. Randy Murdaugh. Jeannie Seckinger. Annette Griswold. Peter Rudofski of SLED. Alfred Johnson from JLA Investigations. David Grubbs from the Attorney General's Office. Demi Garvin from the Forensic Science Network. Kenny Kinsey Orangeburg County Sheriff's Department. From SLED, Dave Owens. Charles Ghent. Ryan Neill. Oswaldo Toledo from the Attorney General's Office. Jason Cook -- Jason Chapman, sheriff's office. Greg Cook from SLED. Courtney Adams. Jomar Albayalde. Mitchell Altman. Alice Hazel, CPA. Mark Altman, IT, PSB. Steven Bechtold, SLED. Eric Bland, attorney. Matt Brown, SLED. Frank Chapman. Charles Chapman. Dalila Cirencione from SLED. Timothy Collier, Sr., SLED. John Conley, Highway Patrol. Tyrone Corbin, Varnville Fire Department.
Keith Crosby from the sheriff's office. Gary Davis. MaryAnn Dempsey. Richard Dixon. Morgan Doughty. With the sheriff's office, Richard Haley. Nancy Drawdy. David Drawdy, deputy corner. Donna Eason. Ashlynn Gantt. Haley Godley from SLED, and Jamie Hall from SLED. Virginia Hadwin. Scott Harriott. Richard Harvey from the sheriff's office. Laura Hash and Bailey Haynes with SLED. Michael Hazel. William Headden. Adrienne Hefney from SLED. Gray Lafitte Henderson. Kendrell Henderson from the Hampton County Sheriff's Office. Marcus Heyward from SLED. Guerry Buddy Hill, sheriff's office. Tommy Hines, SLED. Jonathan Holdbrook, SLED. Chandler Horney, SLED. Jennifer Huntun, SLED. Steven Hudson. Graham Owens -- Graham Holmes, sorry. William Hutto. Jessea James, Highway Patrol. Kristi Jarrell. Hannah Jefferson from SLED. Blake Jefferson from SLED. Bryan Jones from SLED. Blake Johnson from SLED. Pat Keegan from SLED. Tommy Kinard.
Tonya King, Wayne Kirby, III, from SLED. Richard Kneece, Jr. Mark Labreche from FBI. Henry Laffitte. Rebecca Laffitte. Attorney Paul LaRosa from SLED. Stacey Loadholt from the sheriff's office. David Long from the sheriff's office. Elizabeth Laffitte Malinowski. Vera Martinez, SLED. Linda McAlhaney. William McElveen. Leigh McGuinness -- Leigh Ann McGuinness. Jaclynn McKay, SLED. Haley Moody. John Nelson from SLED. Haley Nelson from SLED. John Peters. William Polk from the sheriff's office. Captain Samuel Reighley from SLED. Kashyap Patel. Emily Reinhart, SLED. Dr. Ellen Riemer, MUSC, pathologist. George Rioux, sheriff's office. Major Tommy Robertson, SLED. Diane Rowe. Walter Salisbury. Anthony Sampson from SLED. Christopher Sarine from the fire and rescue. Michael Satterfield. Jerry Smith from SLED. Caleigh Smoak. From SLED also, James Tallon, III. Dana Temple. Phillip Turner. Russell Vernali. Dr. Luis Vega. Courtney Thomas. Caleigh Smoak.
Tammy Weber. Glen Welcker. Chad Westendorf. Samuel White from the Hampton County Sheriff's Office. Lawrence Wiggins, formerly with SLED. Matt Wild from the FBI. David Williams from SLED. Matthew Williams from fire and rescue. Madison Willis from SLED. From the Savannah Memorial Hospital, various employees, including Dr. William Bromberg. Caitlyn Bowman. Dr. Karie Jeter. Alice Dionne. Dr. Brandon Runyan. Dr. Brenna Casey. Dr. James Mitchell. Dr. Brittany Matthews. From SLED, Lesa Chapman. Bailey Morgan. Margaret Pauli. Haley Fiorucci. Jennifer Hunton. David Weaver. Al Jarvis. Lonnie Nelson (sic) from the sheriff's office. Christopher Anderson. Arthur Badger. Johnny Bush. James Randall Drawdy. Angel Gary. Jordan Jinks. Damien Risher. Elease Taylor Mallory. Deon Martin. Thomas Moore. Pamela Pinckney. Natarsha Thomas. Buster Murdaugh. John Marvin Murdaugh. Liz Murdaugh. Kennedy Branstetter. Terry Branstetter. Marian Branstetter. Russell Laffitte.
Jay McGill. Joseph Dingle. Scott O'Quinn. Charles Laffitte, II, and III. Harold Trey O. Mathisen, III. Meagan Kimbrell. Terry Haynes. Kyna Treherme. Attorney Amy Bower. Stephanie Stanley of SLED. Dr. Robin Cotton. Dr. Jonathan Eisenstat, pathologist. Tim Palmbach, crime scene. Mike Sutton, crime scene. Kenneth Zerci, crime scene. Jim Persinger, computer forensics. Chip Johnson, computer forensics. William Tobin, GSR firearms and ballistics. Micah Sturgis, Cellebrite digital evidence. Dr. Amy Broduer. Lynn Murdaugh Goettee. Dr. Donna Schwartz-Maddox. Elizabeth (sic) Robinson. Kyla Robinson. And you gave me another name earlier?
MR. GRIFFIN: Yes, Your Honor. Phillip Strother.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Phillip Strother.
MR. GRIFFIN: Strother, yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Those are the lists of possible witnesses in this case. If any juror knows any of them, or you have any relationship with any of them, or personal or business dealing with any of them, please stand. Yes, sir. Tell me, your juror number and why you're standing.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror 367. I used to work with Sergeant Brown with the Colleton County Sheriff's Department at the Department of Correction for six years.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and would that fact prevent you from being a fair and impartial juror should he testify?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
MR. GRIFFIN: What was his number, please? I'm sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 319. Rogan Gibson, he's my mom's first cousin.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And so would that affect your right to be a -- your ability to be a fair and impartial juror should your first cousin testify?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir, I think it would.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe you would be adversely affected, you would be biased one way or the other if your first cousin testified?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I think I would go with whatever he says.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Pardon?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I would go with whatever he says.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. All right. Any objection to excusing number 319?
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
MR. GRIFFIN: Your Honor, can we have further inquiry later?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir. We'll speak with you further in a little bit. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 257. Barry McRoy. I was a volunteer with the fire department, so I know him. Terry Polk. Jason Chapman. Buddy Hill. I just know them from growing up in Walterboro.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Should they be witnesses, would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 282. Buddy Hill. Jerry Polk.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And should he testify, would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 384. There were several people on the list that I knew. I also knew Barry McRoy because we worked together on some projects at my school. I know Donna Eason as a friend on Facebook, but we've not discussed any aspects of this case. Jason Chapman, I know him; he was a high school student at Colleton County High School, Walterboro High School. Keith Crosby, I worked with him when he was a SRO at the high school and I was principal. Mr. Curtis Eddie Smith, back in the 1990s I was part of an athletic organization called the Walterboro Dark League, and he was one of my acquaintances on that.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, and those acquaintances that you have mentioned, would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir, it will not.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 255. I have a working relationship with Michael Satterfield.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And would that affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. If you know of any other reason why you should not be selected to be on this jury, please stand at this time if you know of any reason why you should not be selected to be on the jury.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any additional questions proposed by the State or the defense?
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: None for Mr. Murdaugh, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to -- there are a number of jurors we need to stand and we'll speak with you a little bit, in a little bit later. Juror Number 258 -- if you'll stand as I call your name. 258. 439. 403. 251. 266. 249. 255. 397. I called -- is that 270? I think I called -- 279 and 249. And 319. When I excuse the other jurors for the day, I will need to have you all remain to ask you some questions. Any other jurors to be included on the list?
MR. GRIFFIN: Yes, Your Honor. Based on some of the responses to the questionnaire, I have a few more that we would like to be talked with.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Tell me who they are and I'll --
MR. GRIFFIN: Number 336.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Number 336, stand, please.
MR. GRIFFIN: Number 390.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 390.
MR. GRIFFIN: Number 430.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 430.
MR. GRIFFIN: And 439.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And 439. And additional ones from the State?
MR. WATERS: 439 we had. I think 446, as they just said. I think the defense have both of mine as well.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. All right. So, ladies and gentlemen, those of -- you may be seated. I just want you to know when the others leave, you'll need to stay for a little bit, so you may be seated. So, ladies and gentlemen, except for those jurors we just identified, you are qualified as jurors. We have four separate panels of jurors, and we have another panel, I think, that will be here around 3:00 that we will, again, speak with in a little bit. We're going to excuse you all for the balance of the day. We need you to call after 6:00 p.m. to the number that was provided to you by the clerk. Is there anyone who does not have that number to call? We have some jurors who don't have the number. How is that? We need you to call back after 6:00 p.m. for a message telling you what time to return. I anticipate it will either be late tomorrow afternoon or early Wednesday, but we will not know for sure because we have to deal with some of the other jury -- jury panels, so we need you to call back not before 6:00, but after 6:00 p.m. You're still on jury duty. Please do not discuss this case at all with anyone: fellow jurors, family members, or anyone. Please do not engage in any form of social media, research or communications. And do not look at anything through the media. Remember, you're under oath, and we need you to maintain that oath, the sanctity of the oath that you have taken, and we look to see you all either late tomorrow or on Wednesday. Thank you very much. Those jurors are excused. The last juror -- hello -- Madame Bailiff, I said just a moment. Sir, were you told to stand? What's your juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 384. I was not told to stand back up.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 384?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 384.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 226.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. You were supposed to stay.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Okay.
(Part of the jury panel exited the courtroom.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, ladies and gentlemen, those of you who were asked to stay, we're going to ask you all some additional questions, so we'll call you back one at a time and speak with you for a short period of time. You'll be given further instructions at that time. So, we'll be in recess in court while we speak with those jurors, the first juror being 258.
(At this time, individual voir dire was conducted with the following jurors outside the courtroom.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Bring number 258 in here.
(Juror Number 258 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Right in the center. All right. How are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Okay.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. You said you don't have a ride?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What part of town do you live in?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I live on the other side about maybe 20 or 30 minutes from here on Madison.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 20 or 30 minutes?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir, Madison Street.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: And a family member dropped me off. She lives in Berkeley.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, and did you say something else about someone called you and asked you about the case?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir. An individual over in Columbia, she's my sister. She called and asked me if I knew about the case.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you told her --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I told her no, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What did you tell her?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I did not know.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And what did she ask you?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: If I heard anything about the Murdaugh guy, you know, about the murder, you know, in Walterboro, and I told her, no, I did not.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. So, she lives 20 or 30 minutes away in a town called --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: My sister lives -- she live in Columbia.
JUDGE NEWMAN: No, where you live.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Me? Yes, sir, I live on Madison Street.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 20 or 30 miles away?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, about 20 or 30 minutes from here.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Is it in the town limits of Walterboro?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It should be. It's on the other side by --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Other side of the county or in the city?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm in the county.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You're in the county.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and so, you know, when jurors don't have rides, either we have to send a sheriff to pick them up and give them transportation, or if the circumstance does not fit that scenario, we excuse them. So, questions by the State or the defense?
MR. WATERS: No further questions, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: If a sheriff's deputy were to pick you up every day, you would be more than willing to serve?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Your Honor, I mean, I just think that she's willing to serve, and if she gets picked -- of course that's a big if -- we ought to accommodate her wish to be on the jury.
MR. WATERS: The State is happy to have her as well.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. So, you'll need to call back after 6:00 p.m. and find out when to come back. Your phone is working?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Call back and find out when you need to come back.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Okay. Thank you.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: 439 is next. This will be 439 coming in.
(Juror Number 439 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Hi there. How are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Fine.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And I think you might have said that you had formed an opinion --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: -- already? And that opinion you believe is that -- would you be able to set aside that opinion and decide the case based on the evidence presented in the courtroom?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Unfortunately, sir, I do not believe that I could be swayed differently. I feel that strongly about it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Questions by the State or the defense?
MR. WATERS: Just real quick. Obviously this is the kind of case where there's probably been a lot of publicity --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
MR. WATERS: -- and, you know, of course, a big part, as the Judge said, as serving as a juror is to put all of that aside and try to just focus on the evidence that's in the courtroom. But that being said, you don't think that's anything you can do to just --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, I don't, sir.
MR. WATERS: Okay. Nothing further from the State.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: I don't have any further questions.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any objection to Ms. 439 being excused?
MR. WATERS: No, sir.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You're not going to ask her what her opinion is?
MR. WATERS: No.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: 403.
(Juror Number 403 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir. I think you said that you had formed an opinion?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And that you would not be able to set that opinion aside?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Judge, I would be hard pressed, and it would have to be some very compelling evidence to change my mind.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. So, as a juror you're sworn to decide the case based on the evidence presented in court --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Uh-huh.
JUDGE NEWMAN: -- and apply the law as I give it to you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I'm not saying you can do that, but that's what jurors are supposed to do.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir, I understand that. I've been in law enforcement twenty-five years. I understand that.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. How does that register on your scale?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Like I said, I would be hard pressed to change my mind, I really would. I would have to try, but --
JUDGE NEWMAN: No guarantees.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No guarantees, no, sir. I'm just being honest.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You're under oath, in addition you're being an honorable man.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
MR. WATERS: No questions from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: We don't object to you excusing him. I have one question after that, though.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You're excused. Thank you very much.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
MR. GRIFFIN: Judge, 336 was a mistake. I had written down the wrong number.
JUDGE NEWMAN: We don't want 336?
MR. GRIFFIN: No, sir, I apologize.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 256 will be next, I think.
(Juror Number 251 entered the room.)
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 251.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 251, I'm sorry. Why did I have you come back? What did you say?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Well, I had already had a opinion about the case, and it really hasn't un-wavered. I kind of -- I had my suspicions when I first heard about it, and they're still the same, to be honest with you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Your suspicions?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And so do you believe you would be able to set aside your opinion and decide the case based on what's presented in court?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I really don't think so because I already formed my opinion. I kind of -- based on what I heard, I just think -- what I base on that.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm just being honest.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
MR. WATERS: Obviously this is the kind of case where there's been a lot of publicity and everything as -- and obviously a juror has an obligation to try to do exactly that. This case is unusual in that there's been so much publicity. But you don't think you could put that aside and focus just on the evidence in the courtroom?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I can't make that promise, to be honest, I'm just going to be honest.
MR. WATERS: Absolutely. We appreciate that. Thank you. No further questions, Judge.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No objection to excusing her.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. The State agrees?
MR. WATERS: Yes, sir. Is that 251?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. We'll excuse you. You don't have to come back.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: 266.
(Juror Number 266 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: 266. Yes, sir, how are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Good.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. What caused you to get back here?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm -- basically the media have me undecided. I don't want to make the wrong decisions. And then on top of that, Monday I'm scheduled for surgery.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Scheduled for surgery Monday?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What kind of surgery?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Naval umbilical hernia repair.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Naval umbilical hernia repair. It's pretty serious? Is it pretty painful?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Right now it is, yeah.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: It will be fine after he has it, Judge --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah, after a few days.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: -- after a few days. They're going to put him under general anesthesia.
MR. WATERS: It's clearly a health issue. No objection from the State, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Have you had it scheduled for awhile?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Like three weeks. I put it off and on, off and on, but --
JUDGE NEWMAN: You got to go in now?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah. If you touch it, I go, no, no, stop.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any objection with him being excused?
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Perhaps less painful than if he stays here with us. No objection.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Well, thanks for coming in. You're excused.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: 249, Judge. 249.
(Juror Number 249 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir, how are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm doing good. How are you doing?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Tell me about what you were thinking back out there.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Which part?
JUDGE NEWMAN: I don't know. You gave us -- you stood up for two things, didn't you?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It was on the personal beliefs that I don't feel like I have the power to judge somebody to that extent.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. You don't believe in the jury system?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No. I don't believe in me having that right to do it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You believe someone else should do it.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: And the first one is I had a personal conversation before knowing that I was on jury duty or anything, and so I have biased opinions formed already.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, and do you believe you can get rid of all of that bias and decide the case based on what's presented in court?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You're pretty locked in with your opinion?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir. I had a very good conversation about it, and I don't know what's facts or --
JUDGE NEWMAN: You had a conversation with who?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: One my friends, like, roughly around the time when it happened.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Okay. That's it?
MR. WATERS: That personal belief that you don't want to sit in judgment on anyone, that's pretty strong? That's not anything that's ever changed or that you can put aside?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I don't feel comfortable making a decision to that extent.
MR. WATERS: Okay. I understand that. Nothing further from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No objection to excusing him, Your Honor.
MR. WATERS: State agrees. Thank you for coming.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thanks for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I appreciate it, y'all have a good one.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: 255.
(Juror Number 255 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: 255. Why did you come back?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I believe that I've already formed an opinion based on the news that I've watched, so I didn't want to not have -- to have a fair -- but not have a fair trial based on what I've already decided.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You believe that you are -- that what you've heard would prevent him -- what you've decided would prevent him from having a fair trial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Based on what I've seen in the news, yes. I haven't been presented anything other than that, so I can't --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Well, do you believe you can set aside your belief and decide it not on the news but on the -- based on what comes up in court?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, I can. But I only have what I have from the news right now, so -- but yes. The answer is yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You haven't heard anything about the case.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that your -- what you've heard cannot be overcome? Or can you set aside that and decide the case based on what's presented in court?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, I can set aside.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Well, by the State?
MR. WATERS: No. I think she said she can set it aside, so --
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: I think she's qualified.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. I think you're qualified, Number 255.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Okay.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, we need you to call after 6:00 to find out when the time is to come back.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Okay.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: 397.
(Juror Number 397 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, Number 397, why did you come back to see us?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I just don't know that I can be impartial. I've heard too much stuff. I'm a manager at Waffle House and I've heard a lot --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Manager at a Waffle House.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: But I've heard a lot of things and I just don't know that I can be --
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, y'all have decided the case in Walmart? I mean, Waffle House?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Well, we've talked about it, you know, it's been talked about and stuff, so --
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. From the State?
MR. WATERS: So, this case obviously has had a lot of publicity --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Right.
MR. WATERS: -- and what jurors have to do is put all of that aside and base it just on the evidence in the courtroom. But that's something you've heard so much that you just don't think you can do?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I just don't think so. No, I don't think I can be. Sorry.
MR. WATERS: Thank you. The defense may have some questions.
(Break in proceedings.)
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Yeah. Since she won't give me the secret recipe, I don't have any problem with her being excused.
MR. WATERS: 397?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. You're excused.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
(Juror Number 319 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir, come right in. What brings you back here?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Y'all told me to come back here.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Did you say something out here?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Did you say something out there that --
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: He is kin to --
MR. WATERS: Rogan Gibson.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: -- Rogan Gibson who --
JUDGE NEWMAN: His mom's first cousin is a witness in the case. Have you discussed the case with him?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Not much with him, but with other people.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Based on all of that, have you formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I don't know. I mean, I haven't really talked to Rogan about it, but I know he was close friends with the family, real close friends, so I would have to go with whatever he says.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, whatever he says is what you're going by.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. You know, one of the things that you have to do as a juror obviously is put aside things like that and base any decision you make on the evidence in the courtroom. Do you think you can do that despite your connection with Rogan?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I would.
JUDGE NEWMAN: How old are you?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm nineteen.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Nineteen. Are you still in school or graduated or --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I graduated high school, went and got my welding certification, graduated from that, and then I'm about to start with a CDL.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay.
MR. WATERS: Do you have any questions?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: He may.
MR. GRIFFIN: No. I'm -- there's a point about Mr. Gibson. I don't think anyone is really going to -- his testimony, I don't believe, is controversial.
MR. WATERS: No. Can we suggest that he step out so we can talk about it? That's how it works for --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. If you'll stand right outside by clerk, we'll have you come back.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
MR. WATERS: Do you mind if I talk with my team real quick?
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
(Break in proceedings.)
MR. WATERS: I think after discussion, the problem is he says, of course, that he is going to go with whatever that witness says, and Jim is arguing, well, I don't know if there's much dispute, but we don't know how a trial is going to go. So, given that he's been strong on that, I think we would submit that he should be excluded.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: And, Your Honor, I think he has one issue with one witness that there's no dispute about his testimony, and they're not -- apparently they haven't talked about it. They're not close. And, I mean, he -- we think he's qualified, so it's up to you, I suspect. Not suspect. I know.
MR. WATERS: The bottom line is he says he's going to believe whatever a witness says regardless of the fact that --
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: He's your witness. What's the problem with that?
MR. WATERS: I mean, I think --
MR. MEADORS: We would say the same if it was yours out of fairness. If you believe one person either way then you can't be swayed.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Right. No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Well, let's bring him back one more time.
(Juror Number 319 reentered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Juror number 319. Okay. Do you believe that you could be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I do, but I'm not going to promise I can.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Are you sort of leaning where you can't, or leaning where you can?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Kind of leaning more I can't.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and I'm going to excuse the juror.
MR. WATERS: Thank you for coming, sir.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Is 336 out there?
MR. GRIFFIN: Yeah. That was a mistake.
JUDGE NEWMAN: We don't need to talk with him?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, sir.
MR. GRIFFIN: No, sir.
(Juror Number 336 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Well, you were about to hear anyway -- you didn't hear us when we called your name to stay?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I got confused, so I assumed -- I thought I had to go and then you said number again. I said -- and then I just stayed.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and -- so, are you good to serve on the jury duty -- on the jury?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm not really sure because normally -- I came today is because my brother, he's getting ready to be interviewed by Stanley Steamer again and go back to work, and that's the only vehicle I've got right now. And my mom works at the school as well, so I won't have any real means of transportation to get over there.
JUDGE NEWMAN: How far away do you live?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Like where -- probably where my grandma stay right now on the other side of -- I want to say, you know, that gas station past -- not a gas station, but it's high school, you go all the way past down there and it's, like, a trailer park --
JUDGE NEWMAN: How many miles away is that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I would say from here to there, I want to say, like, at least a 20 minute drive.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Oh goodness. It's out in the county, or out in the country?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. So, how do you plan to get here?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'll find a way. Where there's a will there's a way if I've got to serve.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Do you have any other problem with serving?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I take care of my grandma. That's about it. But if I have to serve, I'll serve.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You say you take care of her?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir. I take care of her during the mornings.
JUDGE NEWMAN: How old is she?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: She's, like, in her seventies. She has a bad knee. My auntie and my uncle, they had me watch her until one of them get off.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What time do you normally take care of her?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I take care of her from 9:00 in the morning all the way until, like, 5:00 in the afternoon because my uncle works. But he used to work for SC&G, but then he stopped. But my aunt, she normally comes and takes care of her once she's off from work. She used to be a nurse.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you have a job, or you don't work?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I do not work currently.
JUDGE NEWMAN: When is the last time had you a job?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Last year.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And where was that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Kelly Services as a substitute custodian. I used to work for the school.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. So, you said you -- the reason you were able to come was somebody brought you today?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. So, when I said that if anyone has an exemption that you care for someone who is elderly or incapacitated, did you hear that question?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir, because I was in the far back.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You couldn't hear?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir, because I asked the people beside me if he heard the question. He was, like, I don't know. I was asking people questions.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Well, if somebody is a caretaker of someone who's elderly or incapacitated, then they can be excused to care for that person. And that's what you say you do during the day.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Is that the reason why you're not working or --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It's part of the reason. Because, like -- it's part of the reason, but the other part is that I didn't really have a vehicle at that time. Because, like, my brother was working at Stanley Steamers, but he's getting reinterviewed and hired again. And then also a death was in the family. So, like, a combination of multiple things was going on at the time. That's why I stopped working last year.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Any other questions for --
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor. Thank you.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Hold on for a moment. Y'all want him to stay or want him to go?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Your Honor, I think he meets the statutory requirements to be excused if no one is there to take care of grandmom who is in her seventies.
MR. GRIFFIN: We know how old that is.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: We do. He probably ought to be allowed the statutory exemption.
MR. WATERS: Certainly I'm okay if he needs to take care of his grandmother.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Seventy what?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Early seventies.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Early seventies.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Seventy-three? Seventy-four?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I want to say, like, seventy-three or seventy-four. I'm not too close to my grandma's side. Like, I'm not trying to make excuses, but it's, like, like, it's a lot of family issues that goes on in the background that makes me kind of distant towards them, but I do it for my -- I take care my grandma for the sake of my grandma.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: And she's old.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah.
JUDGE NEWMAN: We'll excuse you. You don't have to come back.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
MR. GRIFFIN: Judge, before they bring the next juror in, on the questionnaire, this juror just says that she gets her information from the Murdaugh Murder Podcast. I don't know if you've listened to the podcast, but they spend an inordinate amount of time criticizing Dick, criticizing me. They've already convicted Mr. Murdaugh over and over and over again.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Demonizing me, it's not criticizing me.
MR. WATERS: There's plenty criticizing of the State as well. And y'all have spoken to the media whereas I have not.
(Break in proceedings.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: You mention that to say that the juror should --
MR. GRIFFIN: Well, I just want to question her as to whether -- you know, the things that she's heard and can she set it aside.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Not just him, but his lawyers.
(Juror Number 390 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, ma'am. How are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Well. Yourself?
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. I'm not sure whether you stood up on any of the questions or not. Did you stand up to say whether or not you had formed an opinion?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Oh, no. I did not form an opinion.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, and so have you formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And I think you have indicated through the information that you have listened to some --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I have.
JUDGE NEWMAN: -- podcast?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Uh-huh. They've left more questions than answers, so I can say that I have not done them for, you know, innocent or guilty. It's just been more keeping up with a current event that was going on in our local town.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Any questions by the State?
MR. WATERS: So, just along the lines with what the Judge said, obviously this case is so different and there's been so much publicity, but a juror obviously needs to put all of that aside and just base their decision based on what happens in the courtroom. Do you feel you can do that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
MR. WATERS: Nothing further, Your Honor. Thank you.
MR. GRIFFIN: Just briefly. The podcast, have you listened -- was it critical of Mr. Murdaugh's lawyers, particular Mr. Harpootlian or myself?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'll be honest with you. When I have listened to it, it's usually background noise for me. So, I've listened to bits and pieces. I have not listened to every detail of it, so I couldn't even give you a full timeline of the whole thing.
MR. GRIFFIN: Okay. Thank you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. So, any questions about this juror?
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, Your Honor. We think she's qualified.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, we need you to call back after 6:00 p.m. to find out when to come back.
MR. WATERS: What's your number again, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 390.
MR. WATERS: Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: You're welcome. Thank you.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT CLERK: So, we had five runners. They didn't stay. They left us.
MR. WATERS: Well, 438 had already been excused.
COURT CLERK: So, we had 279 that didn't stay, 249 that didn't stay. 430, 439, and 284.
(Break in proceedings.)
MR. WATERS: 430 was already excused, so you can cross that one off.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Had 384 made up her mind? His mind?
MR. WATERS: Y'all asked for 384. That's the retired teacher.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Was it their questionnaire?
COURT CLERK: So, we're good. All right. The clerk needs coffee.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. So, we're not missing anyone.
(All parties returned to the courtroom.)
(Break in proceedings.)
JURY PANEL THREE
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, I am Clifton Newman, and I am the presiding judge for court this week. You were summoned here for jury duty in the case of The State v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh. Mr. Murdaugh, if you will stand and face the jury panel.
ALEX MURDAUGH: Good afternoon.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we have four panels of juries. You're panel number three. We have one more panel after your panel. We are selecting a jury to try this case. Mr. Murdaugh was indicted and charged with murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul Murdaugh on June 7, 2021, outside their home located at 4047 Moselle Road, Islandton, South Carolina. He's pled not guilty to this charge and is presumed to be not guilty, and that is the purpose for the trial, to see whether the State can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he's guilty. The first part of the process is to have a roll call. So, we need you to stand and be placed under oath so that we can proceed with the roll call. Madame Clerk.
(Roll Call was followed by jury venire.)
JURY VOIR DIRE - PANEL THREE
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, I now have some additional questions specific to this case. As I indicated, the defendant is charged with murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh, on June 7, 2021, outside of their home at 4147 Moselle Road, Islandton, South Carolina. If any member of the jury panel has heard, read, or know anything about this case, or the defendant, Richard Alexander Murdaugh, if so, please stand. If you've heard, read, or know anything about this case, please stand. And what I want you to do is give me your juror number, and then you may be seated. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 781. Newspaper --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Just -- at the moment just stand and give me your juror number. Thank you. You may be seated. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 887.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 886.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Couldn't hear you, ma'am.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 886.
COURT CLERK: 886.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 695.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 715.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 684.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 888.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 845.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 730.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 864.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 821.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 808.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 856.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 810.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 776.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 893.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 711.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 735.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 778.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 705.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 704.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. If you did not stand in response to that question, meaning you have not read, heard, or know anything about this case, or Mr. Murdaugh, if you did not stand in response to that question, please stand and give me your juror number.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 741.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 816.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 826.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 799.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 763.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 685.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 752.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 784.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 785.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 732.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 737.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 727.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 694.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 729.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 803.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and back to the first group who stood indicating that you had read, heard, or know something about this case, or Mr. Murdaugh, I need you to stand. And without explaining it in great detail, I need to know the source of your information, either the podcast, news articles, TV shows, documentaries, newspapers, or the like. If you will, stand again and tell me the nature or the source of the information. Then you may be seated. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 781. Local newspaper and TV.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Seen an Internet article that popped up on the screen.
JUDGE NEWMAN: We need to know your juror numbers.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 887.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 886. I read a newspaper article a couple of years ago.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 695. I work in a cafeteria with women, you know, minimal gossip, but nothing that I have ever read, published material.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Conversations with people in the café.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Overhear. I didn't -- I don't engage.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 715. I just overheard gossip, you know, in town. And I've scrolled Facebook and seen pictures pop up, but that's about it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 684. Social media, news, newspaper, documentaries.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 888. News and social media.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 845. Television and conversations.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 730. The news.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 864. The news, and social media.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 821. The news, social media, TV.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 808. Various news outlets, social media.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 856. On TV. Like, two documentaries.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 810. News, and social media.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 766. News, and conversations.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 893. Just background noise. My wife watched local news and I could hear it in my office. That's about it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 711. Newspaper, and TV.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 735. The news.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 778. News, and documentaries.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 705. Social media. I work at the fire and rescue, and also transported people involved in this case.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, you work at fire and rescue?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And transported people --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I've treated with --
JUDGE NEWMAN: You treated --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I understand. And, sir, do you believe that would affect your ability to be fair and impartial as a juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and you're juror number is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 705.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Any objection to this juror being excused?
MR. WATERS: We would request additional inquiry, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: We would agree, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. Yes, sir, we'll get with you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 704. Internet, television, documentaries, social media. Pretty much all of it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. Considering what you have read, heard, talked to others about, if you have formed an opinion as to the guilt or the innocence of the defendant regarding the murder charges for which he's on trial, please stand. If you have formed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant based on what you've seen, read, heard, or talked about, if you've formed an opinion as to his guilt or innocence, please stand. All right, and tell me your juror number.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: My juror number is 821.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 821. All right, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 776.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 776. Thank you. No matter that -- what you -- opinion you may have formed or -- about this, or based on what you've seen or heard, if you can put all that aside and decide the case only on the evidence received in court, and follow the law and decide this case in a fair and impartial manner, please stand. As it relates to those who have formed an opinion, if you can put all of that aside and decide this case only on the evidence you receive in court, follow the law that I give you, and decide the case in a fair and impartial manner, if you can do that, please stand. All right, and that's juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 776.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 776. And the other jurors -- thank you very much. The other jurors who have formed an opinion, stand, please, again.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And based on the opinions that you've formed, are you convinced that you cannot be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Oh, yeah, I cannot.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, I cannot be fair.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Any objection to this juror being excused?
MR. WATERS: I'm sorry, what was the number again, Your Honor?
COURT CLERK: 821.
MR. WATERS: No objection, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No objection, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. You're excused, sir. If any member of the jury panel is related by blood or marriage, or socially acquainted with the victims, Margaret Maggie Murdaugh, or Paul Murdaugh, or if you or any family member, or significant other is related by blood or marriage, or socially acquainted with the defendant, Alex Murdaugh, if so, please stand. All right, and tell me your juror number and the basis for your standing.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 778. I was friends with Paul Murdaugh.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and would that fact affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir, I would think so.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. If you'll be seated for the time being. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 803. The Murdaugh side of the family is on my mom's side. I don't know if we're closely related or what, but I was putting it out there.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And do you believe that that family relationship would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It's a possibility.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and so we'll speak with you further after awhile. Stay with us. We'll talk further with you. And, ladies and gentlemen, taking a step back. The parties are represented by counsel, the State through the State Attorney Generals and the defense through defense attorneys. I will have them introduce themselves at this time.
MR. WATERS: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Creighton Waters. I'm from the Attorney General's Office, and I will be the lead prosecutor in the prosecution against Alex Murdaugh. With me is another attorney, David Fernandez. Savannah Goude. Johnny James. John Conrad. John Meadors. And then my boss, Don Zelenka over there. Thank you very much.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Please the Court? Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Dick Harpootlian; I'm an attorney from Columbia. My much smaller team includes Jim Griffin, an attorney from Columbia. Phillip Barber, who practices with my firm. Margaret Fox, who practices with Jim's firm. Thank you very much.
JUDGE NEWMAN: If any member of the jury panel has ever been represented by any of the lawyers, if you're related to any of the lawyers by blood or marriage, or have some social acquaintance or relationship with any of the lawyers, if so, please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: If any of you, or any immediate family of yours, or significant other is employed with the Colleton County Sheriff's Department, the State Law Enforcement Division, the solicitor's office for this circuit, or the Attorney General's Office of South Carolina, if so, please stand. Friends or relatives employed by the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, Attorney General's Office, solicitor's office, and SLED, if so, please stand. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 684.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And who are -- who are you related to?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Sergeant Varnadoe.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sergeant -- his name again?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Varnadoe.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Varnadoe, and what relation are you to him?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: First cousin.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay, and should he testify in this case, would that fact affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It would.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Pardon?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It would.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Is he on the witness list?
MR. WATERS: Yes, sir, he is, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And the fact that he might -- he's on the witness -- the list to be a witness, would that prevent you from being a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I think it would.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Any objection to this witness being excused?
MR. WATERS: We would request further inquiry, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and we'll speak with you further during -- Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 685, and I know Tavara Edwards.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What's the name again?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Tavara Edwards.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And who is Tavara Edwards?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: She's police for Colleton County.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And the fact that that agency is involved, or may be involved in this case, would that prevent you from being a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Juror number is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 685.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. We'll speak with you a little bit later. If any juror or any member of your immediate family or significant other is employed by, or has ever been employed by the law firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick, or the Parker Law Group, or if you've ever been sued, or if someone from your immediate family has ever been sued or represented by Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, or the Parker Law Group, or Alex Murdaugh, if so, please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: If you have ever attended any functions, events, parties, giveaways, raffles, gatherings, or any other similar activity hosted by Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, or Alex Murdaugh, or his family, if so, please stand. All right. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, Your Honor. As a lawyer, I've been to a few functions through the Colleton County Bar that was over in Hampton. We used to have --
JUDGE NEWMAN: And tell me your juror number.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 704.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 704, and would that fact affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror 705.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I actually shot skeet with Mr. Murdaugh's brother last summer.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that fact would affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Do you have any beliefs, religious or otherwise, that would preclude you from sitting on a jury and deciding whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty based on the law and the evidence? If you have any religious or other beliefs that would prevent you from serving, please stand. All right. No one is standing. We have a long list of prospective witnesses, and I need you to listen closely to this rather extensive list of the prospective witnesses, and at the end I need to know if you know any of them, have had any relationship with any of them, and we need your acquaintance with them if you are familiar with them. Daniel Greene of the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. Chad McDowell with the sheriff's office. William Cody Pruitt, formerly of the sheriff's office. Tinish Bryson-Smith, with the county dispatch of Hampton. Angela Stallings from the Colleton County -- Colleton County dispatcher. The other one was Hampton County dispatchers.
Dathan Varnadoe from the sheriff's office. Charlie Jones, fire and rescue. Barry McRoy, fire and rescue. Melinda Worley with SLED. Laura Rutland of the sheriff's office. Thomas Darnell of SLED. Rachel Nguyen of SLED. Paul Greer of SLED. Madison Willis of SLED. Julia Begeman of SLED. Octavia (sic) Cartwright of SLED. Rachel Noelle Johnson of SLED. Christine Dadabo of SLED. Norris Laffitte. Jeff Croft of SLED. Katie McCallister of SLED. Kristin Moore of SLED. Jennifer Nates of SLED. Sara Zapata of SLED. Kukila KiKi Wallace of SLED. Megan Fletcher of SLED. Britt Dove of SLED. Rebecca Gregg of SLED. Bobby Bancroft of SLED. Brian Hudak of SLED. Todd Schenk, S-c-h-e-n-k, of SLED. Claude C.B. Rowe. Roger Dale Davis. Mushelle Shelley Smith. Belinda Rast. MaeLynn Haynes. Barbara Mixon. Jonathan VanHouten of the Secret Service. Paul McManigal, Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Dylan Hightower, Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office. Dwight Falkofske of the FBI.
Tom Bevel. John Bedingfield. Nathan Tuten. Nolen Tuten. Willis Chapman. Marian Proctor. Chris Wilson, attorney. Attorney Lee Cope. Attorney Mark Tinsley. Attorney Johnny Parker. Carson Burney from the Attorney General's Office. Michael Gunn. Jan Malinowski. Carey Sauls. Eric Harriott. Ryan Kelly of SLED. Andrew Farmer, and Charles Long, former Hampton County EMS workers. Curtis Eddie Smith. Attorney Mark Ball. Matt Wright of SLED. Attorney Ronnie Crosby. Attorney Danny Henderson. Savannah Memorial Hospital records custodian. Jessica Dunivan, Registered Nurse at Savannah Hospital. Tommy Robertson of SLED. Kenneth Martin, BGA. Sydney Freeman. Hunter Smith. Bailey Wilson. Anthony Russell of the Clarendon -- Colleton County Sheriff's Office. Joshua Duerkp of SLED. Lynn Black of SLED. Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson. Kenny Hughes. Rogan Gibson. Will Loving. Bart Proctor. Randy Murdaugh. Jeannie Seckinger. Annette Griswold. Paul (sic) Rudofski of SLED.
Alfred Johnson of JLA. David Grubbs of the Attorney General's Office. David Garvin, Forensic Science Network. Kenny Kinsey from the Orangeburg Sheriff's Department. Dave Owens of SLED. Charles Ghent of SLED. Ryan Neill of SLED. Oswald Toledo of the Attorney General's Office. Jason Chapman, sheriff's office. Greg Cook. Courtney Adams of SLED. Jomar Albayalde of SLED. Alice Hazel, CPA. Mitchell Altman of SLED. Mark Altman, IT, PSB. Steven Bechtold of SLED. Attorney Eric Bland. Matt Brown of SLED. Frank Chapman. Charles Chapman. Dalila Cirencione of SLED. Timothy Collier, Sr., SLED. John Conley, Highway Patrol. Tyrone Corbin. Varnville Fire Department. Keith Crosby of the sheriff's office. Gary Davis. Mary Dempsey. Richard Dixon. Morgan Doughty. Richard Haley of the sheriff's office. Nancy Drawdy. David Drawdy from the coroner's office. Donna Eason. Ashlynn Gantt. Hallie Godley of SLED. Virginia Hadwin. Jamie Hall of SLED. Scott Harriott.
Richard Harvey of the sheriff's office. Laura Hash of SLED. Bailey Haynes of SLED. Michael Hazel. William Headden. Adrienne Hefney of SLED. Gray Laffitte Henderson. Kendrell Henderson from the Hampton County Sheriff's Office. Marcus Heyward of SLED. Guerry Buddy Hill from the sheriff's office. Tommy Hines from SLED. Jonathan Holdbrook from SLED. Graham Holmes. Chandler Horney from SLED. Steven Hudson. Jennifer Huntun from SLED. William Hutto. Jessea James, Highway Department. Kristi Jarrell. Hannah Jefferson from SLED. Blake Johnson, SLED. Bryan Jones of SLED. Pat Keegan of SLED. Tommie Kinard. Tanya King. Wayne Kirby, III, SLED. Richard Kneece. Mark Labreche from the FBI. Henry Laffitte. Rebecca Laffitte. Paul LaRosa of SLED. Stacey Loadholt of the sheriff's office. David Long, sheriff's office. Elizabeth Laffitte Malinowski. Vera Martinez of SLED. Linda McAlhaney. William McElveen. Leigh Ann McGuinness. Jaclynn McKay of SLED. Haley Moody.
John Nelson of SLED. Haley Nelson, SLED. John Peters. William Polk of the sheriff's office. Captain Samuel Reighley of SLED. Kashyap Patel. Emily Reinhart of SLED. Dr. Ellen Riemer from MUSC Pathologist. George Rioux, sheriff's office. Major Tommy Robertson of SLED. Diane Rowe. Walter Salisbury. Anthony Sampson of SLED. Christopher Sarine of fire and rescue. Michael Tony Satterfield. Jeremy Smith from SLED. Caleigh Smoak. James Tallon, III, of SLED. Dana Temple of SLED. Courtney Thompson. Chelsea Townsend from DHEC. Phillip Turner from SLED. Dr. Luis Vega. Russell Vernali from SLED. Tammy Welcker. Glenn Welcker. Chad Westendorf. Samuel White from the Hampton Sheriff's Office. Lawrence Wiggins, formerly of SLED. Matt Wild of the FBI. David Williams of SLED. Matthew Williams, CCFR, the fire and rescue. Madison Willis of SLED. A list of doctors. Dr. William Bromberg, Savannah Hospital. Caitlyn Bowman, Savannah Memorial Hospital. Dr. Karie Jeter, hospital.
Alice Dionne, a nurse at the hospital. Brandon Runyan, doctor at the hospital. Brenna Casey, a doctor at Savannah Memorial. Dr. James Mitchell, Savannah Memorial. Dr. Brittany Matthews, Savannah Memorial. And from SLED, Lesa Chapman, Bailey Morgan, Margaret Pauli. Also from SLED, Haley Fiorucci. Jennifer Hunton. Lonnie Nelson (sic) with the sheriff's office. David Weaver of SLED. Al Jarvis of SLED. Christopher Anderson. Arthur Badger. Johnny Bush. James Randall Drawdy. Angel Gary, and Jordan Jinks. Damien Risher. Elease Taylor Mallory. Deon Martin. Thomas Moore. Pamela Pinckney. Natarsha Thomas. Buster Murdaugh. John Marvin Murdaugh. Liz Murdaugh. Kennedy Branstetter. Terry Branstetter. Marian Branstetter. Russell Laffitte. Jay McGill. Joseph Dingle. Scott O'Quinn. Charles Laffitte, II and III. Howard Trey O. Mathisen, III. Meagan Kimbrell. Terry Haynes. Kyna Treherme. Attorney Amy Bowers. Stephanie Stanley of SLED. Dr.
Robin Cotton, neck surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Eisenstat, pathologist. Tim Palmbach, crime scene. Mike Sutton, crime scene. Kenneth Zerci, crime scene. Jim Persinger, computer forensics. Chip Johnson, computer forensics. William Tobin, GSR, firearms, and ballistics. Micah Sturgis, Cellebrite digital evidence. Dr. Amy Brodeur. Lynn Murdaugh Goettee. Dr. Donna Schwartz-Maddox. Eric Robinson. Kyla Robinson. Philip Strother. If you're a friend, relative, associate, acquaintance of any of those witnesses, please stand and tell me about it. We'll start on this side. Yes, sir, juror number?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 781.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 781. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Officer Varnadoe I go to church with. Anybody that's a fire fighter, EMT, or paramedic in Colleton or Hampton County, I work at the State Division of EMS, regulations and certifications, gives me access to any of their records or --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you believe that would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you, sir. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 684. Sergeant Varnadoe, first cousin.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and do you believe that would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I do.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 808. Carey Sauls is my sister.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial should she testify?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 694. Angel Stoles. I go to the same church with her.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Back row. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 778. Buster Murdaugh, Wills Chapman, Frank Chapman, Charles Chapman, Will Loving. Richard Kneece. All really good friends. I work with Michael Hazel. I can't remember the last one.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Would that affect your ability to be fair and impartial?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 803. I think I'm related somehow to --
JUDGE NEWMAN: To the Murdaughs?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. Yes, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 705. Being a paramedic with fire and rescue, I work along side all of the fire and rescue individuals. They will be witnesses as well. The sheriff's office, I work along side them.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And do you believe that would affect your ability to be a fair and impartial juror?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. All right. As I indicated to you all, this is a trial that may go two or three weeks or so. If based on the length of the trial, or any of the factors that have not been considered, if you know of any reason, including those other factors, why you should not be selected to be a juror, if so, please stand. All right. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Juror number 763. My daughter is currently in the hospital.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any objection to that juror being excused?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: None from Mr. Murdaugh.
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Thank you. Yes, ma'am, you're excused. Yes, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Number 684. I work at Eden at Gracefield, where I'm pretty sure that some of the attorneys are staying, and I just feel like it would be a conflict of interest.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right.
MR. GRIFFIN: Could you ask the juror to clarify where she works again?
JUDGE NEWMAN: What's the name of the place, again, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Eden at Gracefield. I work for Paul and Nora Walker.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Eden at Gracefield.
MR. WATERS: I believe that's where the defense is staying.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Any objection to this juror being excused?
MR. WATERS: No objection from the State, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you, ma'am. Based on all of the reasons you stood up, you're excused. Any additional voir dire questions proposed by the State or the defense?
MR. WATERS: Not from the State, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: None from Mr. Murdaugh, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Ladies and gentlemen, as I indicated, we have -- you're panel number three. We have one more to go in the morning, then we'll compile a list from which we will select a jury in this case. I anticipate selecting eighteen people to serve. We need jurors who are available to serve. We don't want to put you on a jury and then have you give us a reason and cannot serve. The reason I'm asking questions now is so that you can tell me if there is -- there are any reasons why you should not be selected to serve. If you know of any reason, please stand.
(No one stood.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and the following jurors -- we're going to let you all go in a minute, but I need the following to stay: Juror Number 814, 737 -- if you'll stand if I call your number. Number 814. Is 814 here? 737. 885. 885. 735.
MR. WATERS: I believe he was dismissed as well.
JUDGE NEWMAN: 735. 735. Are they still checking on the habitual offender? Still checking?
MR. WATERS: Yes, sir. I think we need to address that back there if we could, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Number 888. 685. 705. 776. 778. 803. Are there any additional jurors?
MR. GRIFFIN: Number 680, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Number 680. Who is 680? Is 680 here?
MR. GRIFFIN: I'm sorry.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Strike that. And who else?
MR. WATERS: I believe that's all, Your Honor.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. So, ladies and gentlemen, when we want you all to -- well, it's already after 6:00.
(Break in proceedings.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, we told the others to call after 6:00. We want you to call after 8:00. There will be a message there telling you what time to come back. It will either be late tomorrow or Wednesday morning. You're still on jury duty. You must report as instructed. It will either be late tomorrow, 4:00 or so, or Wednesday morning. We hope we'll have a definitive time for you to return after we have finished screening for the jury panel tomorrow morning. You call back at the number that the clerk provides, and the bailiff will have those numbers as you exit if you don't already have them. And you all are free to go. Thank you very much. Please do not discuss the case with anyone, discuss anything about the case, do any research, engage in any social media, or any other means of ascertaining information about the case, and we'll see y'all later. Thank you. The jurors who stood, we need you all to remain and we'll have you come back here.
(At this time, individual voir dire was conducted with the following jurors outside the courtroom.)
(Juror Number 737 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Your number is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: 737.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And why did we bring you back here?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I had an assault charge in '91 back in Michigan.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And what was the penalty?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I served thirteen months out of --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Oh, you served thirteen months. Okay. Well, that would disqualify you. Any additional questions about it?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No, sir.
MR. WATERS: Nothing from the State, Your Honor. Thank you.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Thank you. You're excused. You don't have to come back here.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: Number 888.
(Juror Number 888 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, Number 888, tell me where you work again.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Peoples Plumbing and Gas.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and why did we bring you back?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Because I get paid by commission. I don't get paid time off, and when I miss work, I don't get paid.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Can't afford to be here.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, and so you are paid solely by commission?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir, only commission.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Any questions of this juror?
MR. WATERS: No questions. No objection, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No objection.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right, thank you. We'll -- I didn't want to start a floodgate of people saying I can't afford to be here.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I can give you my bossman's number, too, if you need it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: No, you're good.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: Number 685.
(Juror Number 685 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Number 685.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: How are you doing?
JUDGE NEWMAN: How old are you?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Twenty-two.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What do you for a living?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I work at Sam's Club Merchandise.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sam's Club. In North Charleston?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you pick up someone. Who are you saying?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: My niece. Me and my mom actually have custody of her, so we go back and forth picking up and taking her.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And how old is she?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: She's three.
JUDGE NEWMAN: A three year old niece that you and your mother have custody of.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And y'all alternate picking her up from school?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. Any question that she's entitled to be exempted?
MR. GRIFFIN: No, Your Honor.
MR. WATERS: None from the State, Your Honor. Thank you for coming.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: Number 735.
(Juror Number 735 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: 735. How are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm doing all right.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Tell me about your case you had.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Basically it was a little minor speeding ticket, you know what I mean?
JUDGE NEWMAN: A minor speeding ticket?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Well, and your license was suspended at the time?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And how many times were you charged with driving with a suspended license?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Over three times. This is the third one right here.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, is that pending or have you have been --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Basically I'm on the ticket right now. It's still pending.
JUDGE NEWMAN: A habitual offender?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No. That right there is in Summerville. This is Walterboro. I just got driving under suspension third.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And you're under suspension for tickets or not paying fines or drunk driving or what?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Oh, no, not paying fines.
JUDGE NEWMAN: So, why did you stand up saying that you were a habitual offender?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Oh because to be honest, I already did two and a half months of a habitual offender charge for that driving for the fourth time, but this right here --
JUDGE NEWMAN: Did they drop the habitual offender charge?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir. Once my two and a half months was done with time served.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. So, you never went to big court for it.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I went to general sessions.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You went to general sessions. And the penalty -- the sentence was -- you pled guilty to habitual offender?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It was, like, a plea deal.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I know. But you plead guilty -- you could have gotten five years.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: That's what they say.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Well, who said that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: The judge.
JUDGE NEWMAN: The judge.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: When she was taking your plea, she said you can receive a sentence of up to five years?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: But we're going to give you time served?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Uh-huh. With my two and a half months. Me being a juror, this is not me. Well, this ain't me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Why is that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Because, to be honest, I don't want jail on anybody. In these situations, I don't want prison. I don't wish that on nobody. I know how it is to be in a cage, so --
JUDGE NEWMAN: To be locked up? Yeah, it's tough, huh?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: If you ain't strong. But I rather it be somebody else because I've got money to make, you know what I mean? I would rather be at work.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I understand. Everybody out there would rather not be here. Any question, though, on his being not qualified based on his convictions?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I mean, I'll be here if I got to be here.
MR. WATERS: I'm looking at the rap. I think I need to look at the public index. But no objection to his excusing, Your Honor.
MR. GRIFFIN: Yeah, I mean, it is five years habitual.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Who was the judge?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I don't remember, but if I got to be here, I'll be here.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Was it in Moncks Corner or Walterboro?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, down here.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Oh, in Colleton?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: A female judge?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You don't remember her name?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I done seen many judges. Trust me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sound like you're excused. Thanks for coming.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: Number 776.
(Juror Number 776 entered the room.)
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: How are you doing?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Doing good, 776. What did you answer to that caused me to want you to come back here?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Not being fair.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What did you tell us?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Can I speak freely?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yeah, please.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: My opinion comes from prior to this case. Mallory Beach was my coworker's daughter. And from all that went on from there, how he was feeling, what I went through with him, and it just -- my opinion of the family is not good.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: And I have family on Moselle Road, and I couldn't believe all of this was happening on Moselle Road. But it is mainly because of the Mallory Beach incident. And I developed -- I don't know, I just developed an opinion about them. Even though I don't know these people, I have developed an opinion about it.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You believe that the opinion you have is a fixed opinion that won't change?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It would take a lot to change it. I'm kind of just -- I don't agree with them on the -- account of how it was handled, you know, after the boating accident, covering it up and stuff. It really put a sore thumb in me.
JUDGE NEWMAN: He works with Mallory Beach's --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah. I was working with him during that period, but we still communicate back and forth.
JUDGE NEWMAN: What kind of work were y'all doing?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Georgia Pacific up in Fairfax.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You worked with Mallory Beach's father?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes.
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, could we have a moment with you outside the presence of the juror very briefly?
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. If you'll stand right outside the door there one more time, we'll right back with you.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, I think he's got a DQ of embezzlement by mail by an officer or employee, so I think he's a DQ anyway.
JUDGE NEWMAN: He was convicted of embezzlement by an employee?
MR. WATERS: That's what his rap sheet reflects, yes, sir, so if you want to ask him that. I would rather you ask than me.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: And, Your Honor, if that doesn't work, I think we would ask you to excuse him for cause.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Well, bring him back. What year was that?
MR. WATERS: Your Honor, I apologize. I don't have that with me. I can get it. This was 776.
JUDGE NEWMAN: That's okay. We'll ask.
(Juror Number 776 reentered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: In addition to all of that, did you have a criminal conviction?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Back in, what was it 2000, with the post office back and forth with the postmaster and all, it was more or less -- it was a bunch went on it, but they convicted me of mishandling a mail matter. They said I mishandled a mail matter, this and that.
JUDGE NEWMAN: How much time could you have gotten for that?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I think it was three years, and they put me -- sent me to Aspen Prison Camp, yeah, for four months.
JUDGE NEWMAN: I think all of that would disqualify you anyway. You're good to go.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: Number 778.
(Juror Number 778 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: Number 778. How is it going?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Good, sir. How are you?
JUDGE NEWMAN: You stood up a few times. What was the first time?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Honestly, I can't even remember.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yeah. Friends with Paul, yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Are you the same age, or --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir, he's younger than I am. But we had a lot of mutual friends, and we met in Edisto.
MR. WATERS: Some of the names that he mentioned are on the State's witness list.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you think all of that would prevent you from being fair and impartial, knowing all of these --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I think it --
JUDGE NEWMAN: -- some of the people involved?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I think it would have a play, yeah. I mean, I would try my best, but I think it would definitely be some pulling some way, some how.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Have you formed an opinion as to whether you think he's guilty or not guilty?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No, sir. I don't have all of the facts.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Question by the State or the defense?
MR. WATERS: Yes, sir, just very quickly. Obviously this case has gotten a lot of publicity and it's a small community, and, you know, the obligation of a juror, of course, is to try to put all of that aside and just base their decision on the facts in the courtroom.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Right.
MR. WATERS: So, that's really the question is whether or not you think you could put away all of that and just focus on the evidence that comes in --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I don't think I could. It's as simple as that.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: What did he say?
MR. WATERS: He said he didn't think he could.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Could not base on the facts?
MR. WATERS: That's correct. No, objection, Your Honor.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No objection.
MR. WATERS: Thank you, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: No objection to him being excused?
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: No objection.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Thank you, sir.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT BAILIFF: Number 705.
(Juror Number 705 entered the room.)
JUDGE NEWMAN: 705. Yes, sir. It sounded like you knew more people than anyone else. What is your job now?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I'm a paramedic in Colleton County Fire and Rescue.
JUDGE NEWMAN: And did you have some involvement treating --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I actually treated an individual that I believe you mentioned as a witness. Not during his trial, but I believe he's going to be called as a witness in part of this.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you know what his name is?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I do know his name. Can I say that? That's not HIPAA?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Sure.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: It was Fast Eddie.
JUDGE NEWMAN: You treated Fast Eddie?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir, I did.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Do you know him by that name?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: That was the name that I was told it was.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I don't remember his legal name.
MR. MEADORS: Didn't you also know someone that was related to --
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I shot skeet with Mr. Murdaugh's brother last summer. He actually wasn't -- he didn't throw the skeet shoot. He came up after the fact and was on his golf cart and talked with everybody. But if he walked up right now, I wouldn't recognize him.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: I think the question, Judge, is whether he could be fair or whether he has already made up his mind.
JUDGE NEWMAN: All right. You can ask him.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Have you already expressed an opinion about the guilt or innocence of Alex Murdaugh?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: I believe everybody has a right to a fair trial. I have worked with fire rescue, so you hear things all the time, and I feel that if evidence is produced, I will be able to judge based off of the evidence provided.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: So, you've not expressed an opinion.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: No.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: And you could base your verdict on what you hear in the courtroom and the law as the Judge tells you?
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: That's all I've got.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Anything from the State?
MR. WATERS: The juror has been clear in every answer that he can be fair and impartial, so the State has no questions.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: We would say seat him -- or put him back in the pool.
MR. WATERS: We agree, yes, sir.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Okay. Thank you. So, you'll call after 8:00 to find out what time you need to come back.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Yes, sir. Thank you.
(End of voir dire with this juror.)
COURT CLERK: We have an 803, Joseph Teal, who is not here. He did not stay, but he is related to the Murdaughs.
MR. WATERS: Yeah. He was sitting in the back; he was in the very back.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yeah.
MR. WATERS: He stood up every chance he got, says he's related to the Murdaughs, so we would move he be stricken for cause.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Is that the only one left? Is there another one?
COURT CLERK: Yes, sir.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: Well, Judge, why don't we just wait for them to come back, and whenever they come back tomorrow we can pull that one out rather than having him arrested.
JUDGE NEWMAN: Let's see if he calls or comes back.
MR. HARPOOTLIAN: 9:30 tomorrow?
JUDGE NEWMAN: Yes.
(Whereupon, the case was at ease.)