Prosecutors begin sharing evidence with Alex Murdaugh's defense team after court order
South Carolina prosecutors have begun releasing discovery materials last week that will be used in the murder trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh to Murdaugh's defense team.
Murdaugh was indicted July 14 on two counts of murder and two weapons charges in connection with the June 7, 2021, shooting deaths of his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul. The homicide case has made international headlines and launched numerous true crime documentaries and podcasts.
The release of materials in the Rule 5 discovery process that is a normal and required sharing of evidence between opposing counsels began last week after a contentious Aug. 29 pretrial motions hearing. In that hearing, Judge Clifton Newman ruled prosecutors must turn over the materials and that the defense must agree to strict protection of those materials.
Although the hearing included several instances of courtroom theatrics and loud, argumentative interruptions, Robert Kittle, spokesperson for the S.C. Attorney General's Office, said Friday that "discovery is currently proceeding in an orderly fashion."
The same day, a spokesperson for Murdaugh's legal team confirmed to The Hampton County Guardian they have received a "download" of materials and are reviewing and working to prepare Murdaugh's legal defense.
Power, prestige, and privilege: Inside the rise and fall of the Murdaugh dynasty in South Carolina
Recent coverage: Alex Murdaugh hearing: Judge rules evidence must be shared, but protected
Murdaugh's team said earlier in the week they had received a court order issued by Judge Newman compelling the state to comply with discovery requirements and some of the materials are to be temporarily under a protective order.
"We look forward to reviewing the state’s materials and allegations immediately so we can continue to build a defense for our client so we’re ready for trial in less than six months," Murdaugh attorneys Richard Harpootlian and Jim Griffin said in a statement.
Murdaugh's attorneys have filed motions for a speedy trial and are requesting a January 2023 trial date that has yet to be approved by the state court's administration.
While legal teams go to work, investigators may still be busy building their case against Murdaugh.
On Aug. 30, dive teams from the S.C. Law Enforcement Division were searching near bridges in an area of the Coosawhatchie River in Hampton County. The search site was located along US 278 outside Varnville and roughly 2.4 miles from Murdaugh's parents' home in Almeda.
SLED had divers and teams with metal detectors searching in the water and in marshy areas near two bridges along that section of highway.
SLED would not confirm whether the search was related to the Murdaugh investigation.
This was the second time in two weeks SLED search teams had been in the area, according to residents near the search site.
In the weeks immediately after the June 2021 killings, SLED dive teams also were spotted searching bridges and waterways along the Salkehatchie River near Moselle, the Murdaugh's Colleton County home where the killings took place.
It has been just over a year since an alleged assisted suicide incident that stemmed from Murdaugh's first criminal charges. Murdaugh now faces more than 90 charges and 11 civil suits. He remains in Richland County jail on a $7 million bond.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Alex Murdaugh case: SC prosecutors share evidence with defense team
