Day 1 - January 25, 2023
The jury was sworn and instructed before the State and defense presented competing accounts of the killings, anticipated digital and forensic evidence, and the possibility of two shooters. An audio problem delayed the first witness.
Full day summary
6:08:032. Jury Selection
The court completed jury selection, swore the jury, and delivered preliminary instructions on the charges, burden of proof, jurors’ duties, and restrictions on discussing or researching the case.
Highlights
Jury Selectionjury eventAfter the clerk reported that twelve jurors and six alternates had been selected, the defense confirmed its waiver of Jackson v. Denno hearings concerning four recorded statements, and the court swore the jury.Jury SelectionrulingThe court granted the parties' joint request to seal autopsy photographs and crime-scene photographs or videos that graphically depicted the victims, subject to the procedures stated on the record.
3. Opening Statements
The State and defense delivered opening statements, followed by an audio delay and discussion of body-camera footage, an unofficial daily transcript, and courtroom microphones.
Highlights
Opening Statement - Creighton WatersotherThe prosecution alleged that Alex Murdaugh shot Paul with a shotgun and Maggie with a .300 Blackout rifle near the Moselle kennels, and said it expected close-range forensic evidence and the absence of defensive wounds.Opening Statement - Creighton Watersevidence eventThe State previewed a digital timeline in which Paul's 8:44:55 p.m. kennel video would place Alex with Paul and Maggie shortly before Paul and Maggie's phones stopped activity around 8:49 p.m.Opening Statement - Creighton Waters“3 minutes, ladies and gentlemen, 3 minutes after a video shows he's at the scene with the victims and he told everybody he was never there. Never there. Credibility, ladies and gentlemen, credibility.”— Creighton WatersThe prosecution framed the short interval between the kennel video and the phones' inactivity as a central contradiction in Alex Murdaugh's reported account.Opening Statement - Dick Harpootliantestimony highlightHarpootlian denied that Alex Murdaugh killed Maggie and Paul, characterized the State's account as speculation, and previewed relationship, digital, firearm, and forensic evidence the defense expected to rely upon.Opening Statement - Dick Harpootliantestimony highlightThe defense argued that the missing weapons and use of two different firearms left open a two-shooter scenario, while emphasizing that the defense bore no burden to prove an alternative account.Opening Statement - Dick Harpootlian“Much more likely there were two people, but, again, we don't have to prove anything.”— Dick HarpootlianThis succinctly states the defense's alternative-shooter theory while preserving its position that the State retained the burden of proof.Opening Statement - Dick Harpootlianevidence eventBecause courtroom audio was not working, the State deferred its first witness; the defense requested playback of the entire body-worn-camera video rather than excerpts, the State agreed, and the court treated the issue as settled.