Alex Murdaugh murder trial: Everything you need to know before Tuesday's proceedings

The video at the top of the story will play a live stream or a replay upon completion of today's proceedings.

Day 6 of the Alex Murdaugh murder trial concluded with more testimony from SLED Senior Special Agent Jeff Croft about 300 Blackout rounds and 12 gauge shotgun shells found elsewhere at the Moselle estate, AR-15s being custom made for Murdaugh, and video footage of a SLED interview with Murdaugh that appears to contain some questionable statements from the suspect.

During the afternoon session, Croft testified that other areas of Moselle, including the shooting shed and a pond, were littered with spent 300 Blackout casings and 12 gauge shotgun shells like the kinds used to kill Maggie and Paul. The prosecution played body cam footage of Croft and other SLED agents collecting these cartridges.

The state also played video footage of Murdaugh during a June 10, 2021, follow-up interview with SLED - the second time that Murdaugh spoke to state police after the killings. The interview was conducted inside a vehicle at a hunting lodge owned by his brother, John Marvin Murdaugh.

After chatting with officers, Murdaugh relays his recollection of the timeline of events on the day of the killings. As the video plays, the S.C. Attorney General's lead prosecutor, Creighton Waters, stops and repeats certain key information to the jury, or asks Croft to elaborate or repeat certain portions of Murdaugh's statements for the jury.

In the video, as Murdaugh described the last moments he spent with Paul, driving around the property, he broke down and wept, as SLED agents comforted him and gave him tissues.

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In court Murdaugh, while watching the video, began rocking back and forth and appeared to get emotional, grabbing a tissue from the defense table.

Croft testified that Murdaugh told SLED the last time he saw Maggie and Paul was when the family had supper. However, earlier in the trial, Waters told the jury that the state had cell phone video evidence that put Murdaugh at the dog kennels later than that.

When asked about his relationship with his wife, Murdaugh, who again appeared upset in the video, responded, "I had a wonderful wife, she was a great mother. She didn't work, but she took care of me and the boys."

Murdaugh sniffled throughout the interview, then openly wept at times. During one grief-stricken moment of sobbing, Murdaugh appeared to have said this about Paul: "It's just so bad. I did him so bad." When Waters repeated this to Croft, he verified that is what he said.

While the interview was being conducted, SLED agents downloaded Murdaugh's phone and had him spit out his wad of chewing tobacco in order to do an oral "bubble swab" to collect DNA.

Cross examination of Croft is expected to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Alex Murdaugh murder trialKey revelations and unanswered questions after Week 1.

Alex Murdaugh murder trial: Day 6 a.m. updates at the Colleton County courthouse

The second week of the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial commenced Monday with an often grueling cross examination of one SLED agent and a lot of firearm and ammunition evidence from another.

The cross examination of SLED Senior Criminalist Melinda Worley, who processed much of the evidence from the crime scene, was conducted by Murdaugh defense attorney Richard Harpootlian, whose often grilled Worley with inquiries questioning state and local police practices and the integrity of the crime scene.

At one point early in the cross exam, Harpootlian asked Worley, "What's so special about a special agent?"

Harpootlian questioned the footprint and ballistics evidence taken at the scene, and the methods police used to take them. After questioning the bullet trajectory information presented by Worley, he raised the question, "Doesn't this indicate to you that there were two shooters? Is it possible that there were two shooters?"

At times, Harpootlian seemed like the veteran attorney that he is, asking the tough questions that raise reasonable doubt in the jury's minds. At other times, he appeared like a man who had lost his car keys, fumbling for exhibits and delaying the courtroom action. On multiple occasions, Judge Clifton Newman hurried the defense along, and at one point gave the jury a break while the defense organized its exhibits and presentation.

When testimony and evidence was offered about possible blood spatters on Murduagh's T-shirt that night, Harpootlian questioned whether the spatters were from blood or other substances, such as bleach or rust. When testimony and evidence was offered about "biological matter" found on an ATV near Maggie's body, he questioned if it was human matter, or could it be from a deer.

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Later in Day Six of the trial, SLED Senior Special Agent Jeff Croft took the stand. Video testimony and evidence from Croft included four firearms taken from Murdaugh's gun room - an AR-15 chambered for 300 Blackout rounds, and three 12-gauge shotguns - as well as ammo from the gun room and other areas of the Murdaugh estate.

Ammo found at the estate and in the gun room match the type of ammo found at the murder scene, say prosecutors.

Murdaugh attoney Jim Griffin objected to the weapons and ammo being entered into evidence, citing that they weren't the murder weapon, but Judge Newman ruled they were relevant and overruled the objections.

Croft also presented cell phone snapshots of conversations between victim Paul Murdaugh and his friend, Rogan Gibson, that help establish more information on the timeline of the evening.

Present during Croft's search of the Murdaugh estate the morning after the killings were several attorneys from Murdaugh's family law firm, PMPED, including Lee Cope, Mark Ball and Ronnie Crosby.

Video footage also shows Croft and SLED agents searching through trash cans at Moselle, where they found empty shotgun bosses and, strangely enough, a credit card receipt with a Gucci purchase of $1,021.10 circled on it. Prosecutors did not comment on what the significance of the credit card receipt or the Gucci purchase was.

Notable people in today's session included S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, Fox News anchor Nancy Grace, and even several students on a field trip from an area law school. Also notable was that several members of the general public, who appear to be following the case closely, brought notebooks into the courtroom and studiously took notes.

Court will resume at 2:40 p.m. with more testimony from Croft.

Looking back at Friday in Colleton County court

While the Attorney General's Office would not comment on what witnesses are next to appear next week, the state has published a list of 255 possible witnesses in this trial, which is expected to last until roughly Feb. 10.

The opening week of the double-murder trial of disbarred Hampton attorney Richard “Alex” Murdaugh featured graphic and often gory testimony, images, and videos, as well as revealing witness statements that contradicted information Murdaugh previously gave authorities, and Week Two is expected to be just as riveting and revealing.

Recapping Week 1What happened in court and what's to come.

Throughout the week, witness testimony introduced the state’s claim that a family weapon was used in at least one of the June 7, 2021, murders of Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, at their Colleton County home, while sparking thought-provoking questions of the timeline that Murdaugh gave police and contradicted his statements that he checked both of the bodies for a pulse when he reportedly found them.

Who is the real Alex Murdaugh?The man who wrecked a South Carolina legal dynasty

This widely followed and highly publicized murder trial – a media “mini-city” has been established around the courthouse square that includes a media overflow room, food trucks and luxury porta potties

This widely followed and highly publicized murder trial – a media “mini-city” has been established around the courthouse square that includes a media overflow room, food trucks and luxury porta pottie

Follow Michael DeWitt's Twitter feed for Murdaugh trial updates

A Twitter List by SEDOT_J_Orlando

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Murdaugh trial: Week 2 opens with firearm evidence, cross examinations