Witness in Alex Murdo’s double homicide case describes chaotic crime scene

The defense of Alex Murdo, a disgraced South Carolina lawyer charged with the murders of his wife and son, questioned the integrity of the crime scene on the second day of his case, and also attempted to distinguish between Murdo’s alleged deceptions, including financial misconduct, and the double homicide allegations. for which he is on trial.

Mark Ball, a former partner in law who once considered Murdo a close friend, said Wednesday morning in Walterboro that there were no roadblocks at the crime scene and that he was free to roam Murdo’s Mosel property in the aftermath of the murders.

“There was a piece of Paul’s skull the size of a baseball,” he recalls, seeing Paul Murdo, Murdo’s son, who is accused of murder.

The defense interrogated Ball about what he faced that day, seeking to discredit the actions of the investigators and the preservation of the crime scene.

It was a foggy day with intermittent drizzle and water dripping from the shed onto Paul’s body, Ball said.

Ball testified that he was concerned that water was “dripping all over the place” at the crime scene.

Although Ball is upset by Murdo’s financial crimes and the destruction of the law firm they worked for for decades, he also said that this does not mean he killed 52-year-old Margaret and 22-year-old Paul.

After Murdo left the law firm, Ball discovered evidence of misappropriation of funds while looking through Murdo’s desk. “I’m not sure I know this person,” he said.

“I’m fucking mad,” he said. “But, on the other hand, I am not saying this because he did what he is accused of.”

Image: Alex Murdo listens to testimony during his murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, February 22, 2023.
Alex Murdo listens to testimony at a murder trial in Walterboro, South Carolina, Wednesday.Grace Beam Alford / Hotspot Mail and Courier, Pool

It is still possible that the jury will hear Murdo himself.

Before jurors entered the courtroom earlier in the day, defense attorneys said their client was still considering making his case. However, they raised concerns about his right not to incriminate himself and sought to limit the scope of the prosecution’s cross-examination beforehand, especially in relation to Murdo’s alleged financial crimes.

State District Judge Clifton Newman declined to issue a preliminary ruling and said he would evaluate the evidence as it was presented.

The defense team told NBC News Wednesday afternoon that they were still considering calling Murdo to the podium on Thursday.

So far, the prosecution has provided strong evidence that Murdo was in the dog kennel with his wife and son minutes before they were shot, contrary to what he told investigators.

However, the state’s biggest hurdle was the lack of any direct evidence that could link Murdo to the murders, such as witnesses or the murder weapon.

The second witness called on Wednesday, Daws Cook, represented Murdo in a wrongful death lawsuit following a fatal boat crash in 2019. Paul Murdo was operating a boat owned by Murdo when it crashed, killing 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

Mark Tinsley, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, previously testified for the prosecution that Murdo was on the hook to pay $10 million, most of which he paid out of his own pocket. According to Tinsley, he had a progressive policy for the boat where he would pay $500,000.

Cook said he was unaware of Murdo’s personal financial burden due to the boat affair.

“It was unknown. I must say that at that time I did not pay much attention to this problem. I think there is still a pending review of a declarative judgment that should decide if there was any additional insurance, ”Cook said.

“I wouldn’t say that he didn’t have any personal contacts, but it was definitely not the focus of our attention at the time,” he added.

Prosecutors say Murdo killed Margaret and Paul that evening near the hunting lodge’s outdoor dog kennel to divert attention from an expanding investigation into longstanding financial crimes, including allegations of theft from his clients.

The court also heard testimony from housekeeper Barbara Ann Mixon, who worked for Murdo’s parents. Mixon testified that on the day of the murder, she called Alex to check on his mother at the hospital, who was agitated and cried a lot due to her husband’s absence.

An investigator called by the prosecution testified that it seemed strange to Murdo to visit his mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease, at night when the symptoms might be worse.

The prosecution and defense disagree on these details, covering the months before and after the murder.

Ball questioned his relationship with a longtime friend he thought he knew and said he was still upset about the law firm’s collapse.

“He destroyed a whole legacy,” Ball said.

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