Jurors in the trial of accused killer Alex Murdaugh’s toured “Moselle,” the family property where prosecutors say the 54-year-old former lawyer gunned down his wife and son in 2021.
The eight women and four men who will decide Murdaugh’s fate were escorted onto the 1,770-acre estate Tuesday morning. Jurors saw the kennel and feed area where Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found, but are not believed to have entered the house, according to MSNBC.
The visit follows 26 days of testimony, where Murdaugh admitted to being a liar and a thief, but insisted he’s no murderer. Murdaugh’s defense claimed more than one killer might have been behind the murders. They also argued forensic evidence indicates their client, who’s 6′4″, was too tall to be the shooter. Prosecutors and their experts disagree.
Murdaugh suggested his son’s killing was committed with “anger in their heart” over a 2019 crash, where a woman was killed in a boat his son “Pau-Pau” was allegedly operating while drinking. He presented no evidence to support that theory.
Murdaugh’s wife was shot several times with an AR-style rifle. His son was killed with a .12-gauge shotgun.
On Monday, Judge Clifton Newman granted the defense’s request to walk jurors, including two alternate jurors, around the Murdaugh property. Closing arguments began shortly after Wednesday’s tour.
Local station WJCL said the Murdaugh’s Moselle Farm estate was listed for sale months after the murders. Buster Murdaugh, the defendant’s 26-year-old son, testified the family purchased the largely untamed property in 2012.
“The property boasts over 2.5 miles of river frontage, offering freshwater fishing, kayaking, and abundant deer, turkey, and waterfowl populations” and “could easily be converted into a weekend hunting lodge,” according to its Crosby Land Company listing.
Murdaugh testified he and his sons frequently hunted on the property. The four-bedroom home is listed for $3.9 million.