Buster Murdaugh

Buster Murdaugh testified for the defense on Day 21 about family routines, the Moselle property, firearms, telephone habits, and the events surrounding June 7. He described the communications he received that day as normal and said his father sounded normal during a call about checking on his mother. He also recounted learning that Maggie and Paul had been shot and joining his father and extended family afterward.

His direct testimony provided context about firearm access at Moselle. He said guns were sometimes left in vehicles, a shed, or a golf cart, and that Paul used Buster's .300 Blackout. He qualified his knowledge of the rifles, explaining that Paul was the source of his understanding that the original rifle had disappeared and that he had not seen or known about a replacement before trial. He also distinguished his practice of leaving a Benelli loaded with two turkey loads from the mixed shotgun loads discussed during the trial.

On cross-examination, questioning addressed Moselle's entrances and kennel visibility, travel to Almeda, and the usual parking location there. Buster acknowledged that the parking detail had first been discussed with him only a few days before he testified and that he could not recall who raised it. He denied knowing of his father's financial difficulties before September, described the boat-crash litigation as stressful, acknowledged frustration over Paul's use of his identification, and said his father was wearing shorts and a T-shirt when Buster arrived at the house that night.

On redirect, Buster clarified that Maggie usually took Bubba, and sometimes Grady, to Edisto. He said he understood that both dogs were at Moselle on June 7.