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Alex Murdaugh— Case Archive
2023 Murder Trialtrial-daytrial-dayJohn MeadorsJim Griffinclosing_argumentrebuttal_closingjury_instructionsverdictDay 26 - March 2, 2023The court replaced Juror 785 before the defense closing resumed, then heard the State's rebuttal and charged the jury. The jury returned and individually confirmed guilty verdicts on all four charges; the court denied the defense's post-verdict motion and deferred sentencing.
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Day 26 - March 2, 2023

Juror Replaced, Closings Heard, and Guilty Verdicts Returned

Judge Clifton B. Newman
5Proceedings
3Pages
0Witnesses
309Lines
Day 26 of 27
Appearing:
John Meadors Jim Griffin

The court replaced Juror 785 before the defense closing resumed, then heard the State's rebuttal and charged the jury. The jury returned and individually confirmed guilty verdicts on all four charges; the court denied the defense's post-verdict motion and deferred sentencing.

Full day summary

Before the defense closing argument resumed, the court removed Juror 785 after finding that she had discussed the case with at least three people and expressed an opinion about trial evidence. The defense did not except to the ruling but criticized SLED's involvement in interviews connected to the inquiry. With no objection, the court selected Juror 254 by blind draw and placed that juror on the twelve-person panel. Jim Griffin then argued that investigative deficiencies, disputed forensic evidence, phone and vehicle timelines, and unanswered questions left reasonable doubt, while attributing Alex Murdaugh's false denial that he had been at the kennels to addiction and paranoia rather than murder. John Meadors answered that criticism of investigators diverted attention from Murdaugh's changing account and argued that the kennel video and other evidence supported the State's case. Judge Newman instructed the jury on the presumption of innocence, reasonable doubt, circumstantial evidence, the four charged offenses, and unanimous deliberations; he declined a voluntary-intoxication instruction because the defense had not raised that defense. Deliberations began at 3:40 p.m. The jury later returned guilty verdicts on two murder charges and two weapon-possession charges, and each juror confirmed the verdict during individual polling. The court denied the defense's renewed motion for a mistrial and to set aside the verdict, deferred sentencing until the following morning, and remanded Murdaugh to the sheriff's custody.

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2. Closing Arguments - Defense/Rebuttal

Before closing arguments resumed, the court removed Juror 785 for discussing the case and replaced her with Juror 254. Jim Griffin challenged the State’s circumstantial case, and John Meadors answered in rebuttal before the court recessed ahead of the jury charge.

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Procedural
Juror 785 Removal and Replacement
66 lines

The court removed Juror 785 for outside discussions about the case, sealed the inquiry record, and seated Juror 254 by an unopposed blind selection before defense closing resumed.

Closing
Closing Argument - Jim GriffinJim Griffin
88 lines

Jim Griffin challenged the State's investigation, motive, digital timeline, and forensic proof, acknowledged Murdaugh's kennel lie, and argued that the circumstantial evidence required not-guilty verdicts.

Rebuttal
Rebuttal Closing - John MeadorsJohn Meadors
23 lines

John Meadors urged jurors to reject the defense's investigative criticisms, focus on Murdaugh's kennel lie and the combined timeline, firearms, clothing, and gunshot-residue evidence, and return guilty verdicts.

Highlights

Juror 785 Removal and ReplacementrulingThe court found that Juror 785 had discussed the case with at least three people and expressed an opinion about evidence, ordered her removal, and directed that the inquiry materials be sealed. The defense did not except to the ruling but criticized SLED's role in interviewing two people; the court said its own inquiry did not involve discussions with SLED agents.Juror 785 Removal and Replacement“And in order to preserve the integrity of the process and the interests of both the State and the defense in a fair trial, that juror will be removed and replaced by another juror.”— Clifton NewmanThe court stated the reason for removing Juror 785 and replacing her with an alternate.Juror 785 Removal and Replacementjury eventWith no objection from either party, the court used a blind selection process, chose Juror 254, placed that juror on the twelve-person panel, and resumed the defense closing argument.Closing Argument - Jim GriffinadmissionAfter acknowledging Murdaugh's false denial that he had been at the kennels, Griffin attributed the lie to addiction and paranoia rather than consciousness of murder and played the kennel video.Closing Argument - Jim Griffinevidence eventUsing phone and OnStar timelines, Griffin argued that the victims' phone inactivity did not establish the exact time of death and that Maggie's phone activity was inconsistent with Murdaugh carrying it.Closing Argument - Jim Griffin“There are two words that justice demands in this case, and those two words are not guilty.”— Jim GriffinThe defense's memorable final request for acquittal.Rebuttal Closing - John MeadorsotherMeadors framed the rebuttal around credibility and common sense, arguing that Alex Murdaugh's repeated denial of being at the kennels, followed by his trial admission after discovery of the kennel video, was central to the State's case.Rebuttal Closing - John Meadors“This is The State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh, not the State v. David Owens, not versus SLED.”— John MeadorsThe statement encapsulated the prosecution's response to defense criticism of the investigation.

3. Jury Charge

Judge Clifton Newman charged the jury, retained Juror 741 as an alternate with Alex Murdaugh's consent, declined a voluntary-intoxication instruction, and sent the jury to deliberate at 3:40 p.m.

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Jury Instruction
Jury Charge
30 lines

Judge Newman defined the governing law for the four charges, limited other-acts evidence to motive, instructed the jury on unanimous deliberations and verdict forms, and sent the jury to deliberate.

Highlights

Jury Chargejury eventJudge Newman delivered the final charge defining the jury's factfinding role, evidentiary standards, presumption of innocence, reasonable-doubt burden, elements of the four charged offenses, and deliberation duties.Jury Charge“If these circumstances merely portray the defendant's behavior as suspicious, the proof has failed.”— Clifton NewmanThe instruction stated the limit on a conviction resting on circumstantial evidence that establishes only suspicious behavior.Jury Chargejury eventThe jury began deliberating at 3:40 p.m.

4. Verdict

The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all four dockets, and Judge Newman denied the defense's renewed motions before deferring sentencing until the next morning.

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Verdict
Verdict
102 lines

The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on two murder charges and two weapon-possession charges, and the court denied the defense's motion to set aside the verdict before scheduling sentencing for the next morning.

Highlights

Verdictjury eventThe forelady reported a unanimous decision, and the clerk published guilty verdicts on two murder charges and two charges of possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.Verdictjury eventAfter the jurors confirmed the verdict collectively by raising their hands, the defense requested individual polling; each juror confirmed the verdict, and the court declared it unanimous.Verdict“The jury has been polled and the verdict is a unanimous verdict.”— Clifton NewmanThe court formally confirmed that every juror maintained the published verdicts after individual polling.VerdictrulingThe defense renewed its directed-verdict arguments and moved for a mistrial and to set aside the verdict. The court denied the motion after finding the evidence sufficient for the jury and describing the evidence of guilt as overwhelming.
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