The only surviving son of a lawyer accused of killing his wife and other son testified in his defense as his father smiled proudly during his double-murder trial.
Disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh, 54, locked eyes with his 26-year-old son Buster as he took the witness stand on Tuesday.
Buster choked back tears while telling jurors that his dad called him to say that his mother Maggie, 52, and younger brother Paul, 22, had been murdered in their family’s estate in Moselle.
‘He asked if I was sitting down,’ said Buster. ‘He sounded odd and he told me that my mom and my brother had been shot.’Â
Buster was with his girlfriend on the night of January 7, 2021, when Alex called him. They couple drove to the hunting estate right away and arrived in the morning.
Alex was ‘destroyed’ by the deaths, Buster said.
‘He was heartbroken. I walked in the door and saw him, gave him a hug,’ Buster said. ‘He was broken down.’
Buster was the defense team’s third witness. The defense began laying their case on Friday after prosecutors called more than 60 witnesses supporting their argument that Alex murdered Maggie and Paul.
Alex has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder as well as two weapons charges.
Buster has watched the trial in the courtroom every day.
Alex’s sister and two brothers are also expected to testify in his defense.
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