Three jurors in Alex Murdaugh’s double murder trial stated Monday that they considered the footage from the dog kennel and the testimony of the disgraced patriarch vital to their decision to convict Murdaugh for fatally shooting his son and wife.
Amie Williams, Gwen Generette, and James McDowell were subject to a six-week trial in Walterboro. Nine other jurors voted the trio guilty after hearing from 76 witnesses.
Jurors from NBC’s Today were asked to explain why they sent Murdaugh (54) away.
“It probably would have been a hung jury if it had not been for that video. It was like he spoke from the grave,” Generette said of Paul.
Murdaugh shot and killed his 22-year-old son Paul, and his 52-year-old wife Maggie. They were close to the Moselle hunting estate in Islandton (South Carolina).
Investigators heard repeatedly that the disbarred lawyer from Lowcountry, who was once a powerful member of a legal dynasty, told investigators that he hadn’t been to the kennels the night of the murders.
Paul had however recorded a cellphone camera that captured Murdaugh’s voice as well as his background, just minutes before the prosecutors claimed he murdered them.
McDowell stated that McDowell had lied about the kennel footage. McDowell stated, “If he hadn’t done it, how could he know when to lie about not being there?” ”
McDowell was selected as a juror, despite the fact, his brother, a Colleton County deputy, was present at the crime scene and was one of the first witnesses.
Although the court was made aware of the connection, the defense team and prosecution did not object to him being seated.
Generette said that she was shocked that Murdaugh agreed in his defense to testify and that he admitted publicly that he was at the remote 1,700-acre property three minutes before their murders.
She stated, “I was shocked he was taking to the stand.” “And the kennel footage, it just kinda sealed the deal. ”
Three jurors unanimously ruled that Murdaugh shouldn’t testify.
The deliberations started with a group prayer. After discussing the case, the panel voted anonymously. Nine jurors voted for guilty, two for not guilty, and one for undecided.
Generette stated that Murdaugh’s sobbing, sniffling, and crying were fake. He switched it off.
Weeks worth of evidence were presented to show Murdaugh’s extortion of nearly $9 million from his law firm and vulnerable clients in order for him to live a lavish lifestyle.
The prosecution claimed that he killed his family to delay a financial reckoning that would have ruined his career and reputation.
Williams claimed that financial crime evidence could only be part of Williams’ motive. It made perfect sense.
Television journalists asked jurors to explain why Murdaugh did it.
Williams replied, “I don’t know if that will ever be known.” Williams responded, “It could’ve been a combination, and not just the financial.” “He was feeling the weight of everything, I believe. ”
Jurors were asked whether they would vote to abolish the death penalty.
“It would have been hard for me,” Williams said. “The family suffered a lot. I feel like this way he gets to think about and focus on what he did. That’s more of a punishment to have to live with that.”
Jurors reached their verdict and returned to court to hear Judge Clifton Newman sentence Murdaugh to two consecutive life sentences
McDowell stated, “It was vital for McDowell to return to the project and see it through to its end. ”
In one of the few moments of levity during the trial, a juror who was dismissed asked if she could get her dozen eggs and purse before leaving, eliciting laughter from the courtroom.
Williams explained that another panelist had brought in three dozen eggs to give away, and the woman did not want to leave them behind.
