Alex Murdaugh's murder trial has taken another turn with the judge ruling that jurors will visit the family estate where prosecutors say he shot to death his wife and youngest son. Murdaugh's wife and son were gunned down at the dog kennels on the estate on June 7, 2021, and his lawyer Dick Harpootlian told the judge that the visit will help jurors "get some understanding of spatial relationships". Alex Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22. Notably, the South Carolina family has found itself muddled in several murders, which have been documented by the Netflix documentary series Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal.&nbsp;

Judge Clifton Newman allowed the visit even as the prosecutors objected to it. The Alex Murdaugh trial has now entered its sixth week and continues to remain a topic of interest among the people, especially ever since the Netflix documentary came out. The jury will start deliberations on the matter around the second half of the week. Alex Murdaugh was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in July. He has pleaded not guilty to the murders and faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted.

Being called South Carolina's "trial of the century", the Murdaugh Murders have led to several television shows, documentaries and podcasts.&nbsp;

About the Murdaugh murders

Murdaugh informed the police about the bodies of his wife and son at 10:06 pm from his cellphone on June 7, 2021 that he says he found near the dog kennels at the family's hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina. Multiple gunshots were found on the bodies and reports suggest that different weapons were used to commit the murders. Murdaugh said that at the time the murders were committed, he was with his terminally-ill father, Randolph III, and mother, who has dementia. However, he later admitted that he lied about his whereabouts, although he insists that he has nothing to do with the murders.&nbsp;

Alex Murdaugh changed his account of his whereabouts on the night of the killings after a cellphone video was&nbsp; produced in front of the jury. The video contained the audio of his voice placing him at the scene of the crime. He blamed his lies on “paranoid thinking” due to opioid drug addiction.

Two forensic experts testified on Monday that law enforcement got certain aspects of the investigation wrong. Crime scene analyst Tim Palmbach said there was likely more than one shooter, since two separate firearms were used.&nbsp;

"My opinion is the totality of the evidence is more suggestive of a two-shooter scenario," Palmbach testified.

Earlier, on February 24, Alex found himself facing a new charge, that of passing contraband in the courtroom.

What does Alex Murdaugh believe happened?

Alex links the entire matter to a 2019 boating incident involving his son Paul Murdaugh, which led to the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. He says that someone angry with the accident killed his wife and son Paul to avenge the death.&nbsp;

What happened on the Murdaugh boat trip?

On February 23, 2019, Paul Murdaugh drove a boat with five others on board on the Beaufort River in South Carolina. Mallory Beach, Anthony Cook, Morgan Doughty, Miley Altman, and Connor Cook were with him on the boat. While returning at 2 am on Sunday, the boat crashed into Archer’s Creek Bridge near Parris Island, throwing Mallory Beach overboard. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal tells about how one of the six friends, Anthony says that Paul was “outta-his-mind drunk” and did not let the others drive the boat despite repeatedly being told to do so. Others say Paul even left the boat wheel unattended several times and that how it was a "terrifying" trip. A CBS News report said that when Paul was brought to the hospital, his blood alcohol level (BAC) was at .24 — three times the legal limit.

What happened to Mallory Beach?

Mallory Beach was the only one to have died in the boating accident. Her body was discovered around eight days later, on March 3, 2019. &nbsp;Mallory’s body was found about five miles from the crash scene. Fox Carolina reported that Mallory died from blunt force trauma and drowning. Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts, including one count of boating under the influence causing death and two counts of boating under the influence causing bodily injury on April 18, 2019. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. But in an unexpected turn of events, Paul was killed on June 7, 2021, alongwith his mother.&nbsp;

There were three couples on the boat and Mallory became acquainted with Paul since she was dating Anthony Cook.&nbsp;

When will the Alex Murdaugh trial end?

Alex Murdaugh’s defence rested its case Monday following the testimony of 14 witnesses over about two weeks. The prosecution's list featured 61 witnesses over three weeks of testimony. It is supposedly set to seek testimony from four or five rebuttal witnesses on Tuesday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Alex Murdaugh's murder trial has taken another turn with the judge ruling that jurors will visit the family estate where prosecutors say he shot to death his wife and youngest son.

Alex Murdaugh's murder trial has taken another turn with the judge ruling that jurors will visit the family estate where prosecutors say he shot to death his wife and youngest son. Murdaugh's wife and son were gunned down at the dog kennels on the estate on June 7, 2021, and his lawyer Dick Harpootlian told the judge that the visit will help jurors "get some understanding of spatial relationships". Alex Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22. Notably, the South Carolina family has found itself muddled in several murders, which have been documented by the Netflix documentary series Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. Judge Clifton Newman allowed the visit even as the prosecutors objected to it. The Alex Murdaugh trial has now entered its sixth week and continues to remain a topic of interest among the people, especially ever since the Netflix documentary came out. The jury will start deliberations on the matter around the second half of the week. Alex Murdaugh was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in July. He has pleaded not guilty to the murders and faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted. Being called South Carolina's "trial of the century", the Murdaugh Murders have led to several television shows, documentaries and podcasts. About the Murdaugh murders Murdaugh informed the police about the bodies of his wife and son at 10:06 pm from his cellphone on June 7, 2021 that he says he found near the dog kennels at the family's hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina. Multiple gunshots were found on the bodies and reports suggest that different weapons were used to commit the murders. Murdaugh said that at the time the murders were committed, he was with his terminally-ill father, Randolph III, and mother, who has dementia. However, he later admitted that he lied about his whereabouts, although he insists that he has nothing to do with the murders. Alex Murdaugh changed his account of his whereabouts on the night of the killings after a cellphone video was produced in front of the jury. The video contained the audio of his voice placing him at the scene of the crime. He blamed his lies on “paranoid thinking” due to opioid drug addiction. Two forensic experts testified on Monday that law enforcement got certain aspects of the investigation wrong. Crime scene analyst Tim Palmbach said there was likely more than one shooter, since two separate firearms were used. "My opinion is the totality of the evidence is more suggestive of a two-shooter scenario," Palmbach testified. Earlier, on February 24, Alex found himself facing a new charge, that of passing contraband in the courtroom. What does Alex Murdaugh believe happened? Alex links the entire matter to a 2019 boating incident involving his son Paul Murdaugh, which led to the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. He says that someone angry with the accident killed his wife and son Paul to avenge the death. What happened on the Murdaugh boat trip? On February 23, 2019, Paul Murdaugh drove a boat with five others on board on the Beaufort River in South Carolina. Mallory Beach, Anthony Cook, Morgan Doughty, Miley Altman, and Connor Cook were with him on the boat. While returning at 2 am on Sunday, the boat crashed into Archer’s Creek Bridge near Parris Island, throwing Mallory Beach overboard. Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal tells about how one of the six friends, Anthony says that Paul was “outta-his-mind drunk” and did not let the others drive the boat despite repeatedly being told to do so. Others say Paul even left the boat wheel unattended several times and that how it was a "terrifying" trip. A CBS News report said that when Paul was brought to the hospital, his blood alcohol level (BAC) was at .24 — three times the legal limit. What happened to Mallory Beach? Mallory Beach was the only one to have died in the boating accident. Her body was discovered around eight days later, on March 3, 2019. Mallory’s body was found about five miles from the crash scene. Fox Carolina reported that Mallory died from blunt force trauma and drowning. Paul Murdaugh was charged with three felony counts, including one count of boating under the influence causing death and two counts of boating under the influence causing bodily injury on April 18, 2019. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. But in an unexpected turn of events, Paul was killed on June 7, 2021, alongwith his mother. There were three couples on the boat and Mallory became acquainted with Paul since she was dating Anthony Cook. When will the Alex Murdaugh trial end? Alex Murdaugh’s defence rested its case Monday following the testimony of 14 witnesses over about two weeks. The prosecution's list featured 61 witnesses over three weeks of testimony. It is supposedly set to seek testimony from four or five rebuttal witnesses on Tuesday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Alex Murdaugh, scion of a legal dynasty involved in 'trial of the century'

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a new Netflix three-part documentary series on the titular Murdaugh Murders. The series was released without a lot of promotion on Sunday even as the double-murder trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh continues in Walterboro, South Carolina. The documentary series comes from directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst and explores the rise and fall of the prominent and controversial legal family. Alex comes from a lineage of legal professionals dating back to the&nbsp;early 20th century. However, he and his associates have long been a target in criminal investigations and activities. That came to a head when his son Paul, 22, and wife Maggie, 52, were found dead in June 2021. Alex and Maggie had been estranged preceding the murder.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aib52bSEpCQ" title="Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal | Official Trailer | Netflix" width="1280"></iframe>

The Murdaugh family members, including Alex, have also been connected with other murders in the Low Country region of South Carolina.

<h2>What is Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal about?</h2>

The docu-series aims to shed more light on the sinister case of the Murdaugh family and the Murdaugh murders, which preceded the death of teenager Mallory Beach. Beach died in a drunken boating accident when Paul, Alex's son, was allegedly the driver of the boat. &nbsp;But when Paul and Maggie were found murdered in April 2021, cover-up was suspected.

And then, in September, 2021, Alex himself was allegedly shot in the head. But the whole thing was said to be a setup. It was alleged that Alex has hired a gunman to get a $10 million insurance payout for the surviving son Buster Murdaugh.

<h2>What are other cases involving the Murdaughs?</h2>

In 2015, a gay teen called Stephen Smith was found dead from blunt force trauma in Hampton County. The case was ruled hit and run and nobody was arrested. Smith was a classmate of Buster and witnesses said both were involved in a relationship. Many alleged cover-up. The case was reopened in June 2021 when Alex Murdaugh's wife Maggie and other son Paul were murdered.

On February 2, 2018, Gloria Satterfield, Murdaughs' housekeeper, fell down the steps at an estate and died on February 26 of complications arising out of the injury. The incident was reported 'trip and fall' but the case was not thoroughly investigated by a coroner and not even an autopsy was performed. Alex was said to exhibit "suspicious" behaviour around the incident. He arrived on the scene before the medics and said Satterfield had said dogs had pushed her, which contradicted the victim's statement.

Apart from these Alex Murdaughs has been involved in embezzlement, insurance fraud (apart from the case mentioned above), narcotics distribution, tax evasion, and many more.

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Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a new Netflix three-part documentary series on the titular Murdaugh Murders. The series was released without a lot of promotion on Sunday even as the double-murder trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh continues in Walterboro, South Carolina.

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is a new Netflix three-part documentary series on the titular Murdaugh Murders. The series was released without a lot of promotion on Sunday even as the double-murder trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh continues in Walterboro, South Carolina. The documentary series comes from directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst and explores the rise and fall of the prominent and controversial legal family. Alex comes from a lineage of legal professionals dating back to the early 20th century. However, he and his associates have long been a target in criminal investigations and activities. That came to a head when his son Paul, 22, and wife Maggie, 52, were found dead in June 2021. Alex and Maggie had been estranged preceding the murder. The Murdaugh family members, including Alex, have also been connected with other murders in the Low Country region of South Carolina. What is Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal about? The docu-series aims to shed more light on the sinister case of the Murdaugh family and the Murdaugh murders, which preceded the death of teenager Mallory Beach. Beach died in a drunken boating accident when Paul, Alex's son, was allegedly the driver of the boat. But when Paul and Maggie were found murdered in April 2021, cover-up was suspected. And then, in September, 2021, Alex himself was allegedly shot in the head. But the whole thing was said to be a setup. It was alleged that Alex has hired a gunman to get a $10 million insurance payout for the surviving son Buster Murdaugh. What are other cases involving the Murdaughs? In 2015, a gay teen called Stephen Smith was found dead from blunt force trauma in Hampton County. The case was ruled hit and run and nobody was arrested. Smith was a classmate of Buster and witnesses said both were involved in a relationship. Many alleged cover-up. The case was reopened in June 2021 when Alex Murdaugh's wife Maggie and other son Paul were murdered. On February 2, 2018, Gloria Satterfield, Murdaughs' housekeeper, fell down the steps at an estate and died on February 26 of complications arising out of the injury. The incident was reported 'trip and fall' but the case was not thoroughly investigated by a coroner and not even an autopsy was performed. Alex was said to exhibit "suspicious" behaviour around the incident. He arrived on the scene before the medics and said Satterfield had said dogs had pushed her, which contradicted the victim's statement. Apart from these Alex Murdaughs has been involved in embezzlement, insurance fraud (apart from the case mentioned above), narcotics distribution, tax evasion, and many more. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Murdaugh Murders A Southern Scandal: Everything to know about Netflix's timely docuseries

Over the past few weeks, American media has closely followed the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, a well-known South Carolina-based lawyer who is facing charges that he killed his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son Paul, 22.

Over the past few weeks, American media has closely followed the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, a well-known South Carolina-based lawyer who is facing charges that he killed his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son Paul, 22. Each twist and turn in this case has been broadcast live on national television and now American streaming giant Netflix has come out with a three-part documentary series called "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal". Alex Murdaugh, 54, belongs to a family of prominent lawyers that have dominated South Carolina's legal landscape for decades. He has maintained his innocence in the killings. If convicted, Murdaugh would face 30 years to life in prison. What are the Murdaugh murders about? On the night of June 7, 2021, at around 10 pm, Alex Murdaugh called 911 to report that his wife Maggie and youngest son Paul were shot dead. Murdaugh said that their bodies were discovered near the dog kennels at the family's hunting lodge in Islandton, South Carolina. Earlier in the day, Murdaugh was at home with Maggie and Paul and phone records indicated that he left home to visit his ailing mother at 9 pm, according to a report by the New York Times on Wednesday. ALSO READ | Murdaugh Murders A Southern Scandal: Everything to know about Netflix's timely docuseries The murders of Maggie and Paul shocked South Carolina's Lowcountry region. Law enforcement officers who were at the crime scene found shell casings and said they looked for surveillance cameras from nearby areas. But police reports did not indicate that they found any. Murdaugh told the officers that his son Paul, a student at the University of South Carolina, was getting death threats due to a fatal boat accident he had been involved in 2019 in which 19-year-old Mallory Beach, one of the passengers, had died. Paul was allegedly drunk while operating the boat and he was charged with felonies related to the accident. No arrests were made in connection to the murders of Maggie and Paul for more than a year. July 2022: Alex Murdaugh indicted for murders of wife, son In July last year, Alex Murdaugh was indicted for the murders of Maggie and Paul, with authorities saying he shot his wife with a rifle and his son with a shotgun, the New York Times report added. Prosecutors accused the 54-year-old of killing his wife and son in a failed attempt to conceal his financial crimes. On September 3, 2021, Murdaugh resigned from the law firm Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrick (PMPED) after he was confronted for years of suspected embezzlement. A day later, the former lawyer claimed that he was shot in the head on a roadside while he was changing a flat tyre. However, investigators soon discovered that Murdaugh asked a former client to kill him so that his oldest son, Buster, would receive $10 million in life insurance. But the shooter missed. Murdaugh survived and was charged with fraud. He was jailed in October 2021 and since then has faced several financial charges. What is the latest development in the trial? On Wednesday, Mark Ball, a former law partner of Alex Murdaugh and friend of over three decades, testified that over a dozen people walked around the crime scene (of the killings of Maggie and Paul) before law enforcement officers arrived. “This is a pretty big farm and I don’t know who is over there. Two people have been gunned down. Safety is one concern. And is that house part of what has gone on here? Where does the crime scene start and stop,” Ball said, the news agency AP reported. Ball also said that he identified Murdaugh's voice in a video taken at the dog kennels minutes before Maggie and Paul were murdered. Has the Murdaugh family been involved in any other case? The scrutiny on Alex Murdaugh in the murder of his wife and son has opened investigations into three other deaths in proximity to the family. These three deaths are of Mallory Beach, Gloria Satterfield and Stephen Smith. As mentioned before, Mallory Beach was killed in a fatal boat crash in 2019 and questions were raised about whether the police were sloppy in their probe or gave Paul Murdaugh favourable treatment. Paul was out on bail after he was charged. A year before the boat accident, Gloria Satterfield, who was a housekeeper for Alex Murdaugh and his family for more than two decades, died after falling down the stairs at their residence. Murdaugh stole millions of dollars paid by an insurance company to the relatives of Satterfield. The investigation is this case is still going on. And in 2015, Stephen Smith, a former classmate of Murdaugh's oldest son Buster, was found dead on a road about 16 kilometres from the Murdaugh residence. Smith's death was initially investigated as a possible shooting but was then considered to be a hit and run, the New York Times reported. It was rumoured that the Murdaughs were involved but the police have not accused the family of any wrongdoing. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: The crime saga of Murdaugh Murders in South Carolina, US, and the mysteries so far