So Alex Murdaugh is testifying right now. Wow.

[Tomconroy]

I guess he figured he has nothing to lose.

[live love laugh]

1. His name is actually a clue. Betcha he's a Republican.

[Tomconroy]

10. Apparently he gives to both parties but in 2020 he gave money to Biden

But not trump.
https://www.thetimes.com.ng/2023/01/alex-murdaugh-political-affiliation/

[BlackSkimmer]

17. Nope, he's a Dem donor.

Has been a SC Dem forever.

[GusBob]

27. bad call there

his family is big into Dem party in his state

[live love laugh]

29. Can't "win" 'em all.

[Joe Cool]

2. Can we have some more context?

[Tetrachloride]

6. my exact thoughts: lawyer on trial for murder in S Carolina

[a kennedy]

7. Sorry, he's charged with the double murders of his wife and son........

Has a back story of being debt for embezzling millions from his own law practice, lotsa back story…….

Read here: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/13/us/murdaugh-deaths-timeline/index.html

[a kennedy]

3. I know, shocked he would, but, I do think he thinks he's gonna beat these charges......

he’s an attorney and I think he really thinks he’s gonna beat this. What’s with his licking his lips all the time???

[NJCher]

8. surely you jest

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2023, 05:53 PM - Edit history (1)

he's an opioid crazed thief who stole his own law firm blind and was dismissed.

Now true that these circumstances may not enter this particular courtroom, but at some point he has to answer for this.

This is guy is pathetic as trump. He is a sniveling, miserable excuse for a human being whose family corrupted justice for decades.

[BlackSkimmer]

18. I agree. The cops screwed the investigation up badly, so he may skate.

But they'll get him for the financial crap.

[live love laugh]

28. I think it's sad he had his son testify for him.

[NJCher]

30. you know something?

Had it not been for comparing notes on these despicable creeps over the period of a few decades here at DU, I don't think I'd know how low human beings can stoop. I'd have a good idea, but not to the extent that I see it now.

We see this type of unconscionable behavior time after time after time.

Of course the internet and TV brings the picture together, too.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel gratitude for the good parents I had. Imagine living the rest of your life with this kind of father. I really don't think a normal life is in the picture for this individual.

[live love laugh]

37. His son's life is ruined. I'm also grateful for decent parents and community.

[Tetrachloride]

4. Context: South Carolina lawyer on trial for murder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_Alex_Murdaugh

[Submariner]

5. Tellin' a down home yarn now about Paw Paw

and Buster's truck....yada...yada.....BS lying crap

[Kennah]

38. Don't forget Ro-Ro and Mags

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. Watched the Murdaugh doc on Netflix last night.

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2023, 02:33 PM - Edit history (1)

This guy and his family were responsible/implicated in 5 deaths. Really a fascinating look at a murderous psychopath in the U.S.

[Martin68]

12. I take issue with your characterization of the case "a fascinating look at high social culture in

the South." I'd suggest "a fascinating look at a murderous psychopath in the U.S." I don't see how this case is a reflection of high social culture in the South unless you have a bone to pick with Southerners in general.

[OAITW r.2.0]

14. Point taken.

Fixed...

[BlackSkimmer]

19. Yeah, it's pure Southern Gothic at this point.

But you're right, the US has plenty of creepy killers to go around.

[Martin68]

32. Yes, the press is playing up the southern gothic stereotype angle, and the rest of the country is

eating it up. It's a disgusting example of using stereotypes to implicate an entire culture. It seems so easy to parody "The South" and "southern culture" in ways that would be found offensive if applied to New York, New England or California. This is a story about a broke investor with a drug habit who went off the rails and killed his wife and son because they found out about it. It could have taken place in Maine, Texas, Kansas, Oregon, Ontario, or any number of places not implicated with "southern culture."

[BlackSkimmer]

33. Don't forget how well it would play up New York culture.

Tfg comes to mind, but oh, so many more.

You nailed it.

[DET]

11. Creepy

Buster and Bubba and Paw Paw and the chicken…oh, the chicken. Alex is just a rich, supremely powerful good ‘ol boy havin’ fun down by the pond. I guess that stuff plays well in the South but it just stuck me as skeevy. Still waiting for a Perry Mason moment. This is not exactly a tough examination.

[Martin68]

13. "This stuff plays well in the South?" What is that supposed to mean?

Looks like it's playing well over the entire country in terms of a morbid fascination with the murder of family members.

[DET]

16. It Means..

…that Murdaugh is playing to the jury, which consists of local people, most if not all of whom are presumably Southerners for whom these sorts of terms may be the norm. In fact, according to eyewitnesses, the jury is totally engaged in Murdaugh’s testimony and is nodding in agreement during parts of it. Transport that same testimony to New England and you’d get a different reaction. I can understand being offended if you live in the South, but Murdaugh is shamelessly playing to Southern stereotypes. And it appears to be working.

[Martin68]

31. I do live in the South, but the idea that a man who murdered his wife and son in cold blood is

"playing to Southern stereotypes" is a bigoted point of view. Can you clarify which "southern stereotypes" Murdaugh is successfully playing to in regard to the jury? Would you blithely accept the statement that someone was "shamelessly playing to New England stereotypes" to sway a New England jury? I lived in New England, and I would find either statement offensive.

[BlackSkimmer]

34. What "terms"? other than the nicknames, what do you mean?

I'll wait.

He seems to be using regular old American English that I can tell.

[DET]

43. Life Is Too Short

Sorry, but I’m not engaging further at this point. It would not be a productive discussion.

[BlackSkimmer]

20. Wow, really? "Plays well in the south" Huh?

There seems to be much you don't know about this case.

[Kennah]

39. Why are people ignoring Ro-Ro?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. People are being extremely weird about the way this man talks and where he's from.

[BlackSkimmer]

21. Thank you.

But the hatred of the south frequently is seen here. You know that.

I'd love to see some of these folks get into a discussion with one of our good southern Dems. Be kind of fun to watch.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

22. Yep.

I'd love to see some of these folks get into a discussion with one of our good southern Dems.

Right right, the ones living in states that some here can't wait to cut loose.

[Kennah]

41. There appears to be an attempt to appear aw shucks folksy by calling his dead son Paw Paw

[WhiskeyGrinder]

45. Yes, there are all sorts of tactics a person can use when defending themselves.

[CoopersDad]

23. Rich White Dude with Pill Problem

He seems to be trying to be found not guilty of murder by reason of his sad Opiate problem.

I hope they nail him, but this trial is running so long as to bore the jurors into a "just get it over" frame of mind.

[Tomconroy]

24. Motive still seems to be missing although I haven't watched the

Whole trial. I think a short effective cross would be better than going through all the Financials. They know he's a thief. The state needs to prove he's a murderer

[Martin68]

36. The motive is that his world was caving in around him. His law partners had just discovered that

he was stealing millions from them and his clients, and his son had just discovered his cache of opioids. He had been in rehab multiple times, and was clearly dependent on opioids to deal with the fact that he was facing total ruin financially and professionally. He went off the rails when his wife and son found out about his relapse. Perhaps it was a last ditch effort to get sympathy and force everybody to give him some slack for his addiction and crimes. Clearly, he lost it entirely.

[lindysalsagal]

25. Got a male compensation problem, too. Publicly poses as law enforcement.

Then admits under oath he's not.

[DET]

26. "I Won't Dispute That"

Murdaugh sure has a bad memory.

[LiberalFighter]

35. Has there been testimony from the coroner yet?

I think the prosecutor is trying to build a timeline to show he was there when they were shot. I'm not sure if anything came out yet as to whether he had any blood on him after he checked the bodies. If he cleaned himself up and changed clothes before calling the police.

[Raftergirl]

40. Yes. The coroner testified for the defense.

He was their first witness. He was elected to the position and is not a doctor and has no formal medical training at all. He determined time of death by feeling the victims armpits.

He didn’t do anything else.

[LiberalFighter]

44. What? Is he friends with Murdaugh?

[Raftergirl]

46. I'm sure they knew each other.

[Kennah]

42. Gun Shot Residue evidence appears very strong