Which is why this murder trial should have had a change of venue in the first place. Testimony of Alex Murdaugh’s financial crimes should have never been allowed, as well as the dead son’s fatal boating accident, killing a popular young girl. They were both highly prejudicial in a tiny community where gossip could have influenced testimony, jurors and court officials.
Given the family’s wide spread influence, I think Murdaugh thought that it would be an advantage to have a home court jury. Not to mention, the boat wreck provided a motive for someone wanting to kill pau pau. Recently I spoke to the original DA who was first at the scene. He said it was very unusual to have two guns involved.
I was never convinced that Murdaugh was so whacked out and desperate that he killed his wife and son as a way out of his financial trouble. It would have made more sense if he committed murder/suicide.