“She was involved concerning the amount of cash that they have been requesting in that lawsuit — $30 million is what she informed me,” Turrubiate-Simpson mentioned. “She mentioned she knew the amount of cash they have been asking.
“She felt that Alex was not being truthful to her with regard to what was occurring with that lawsuit. She mentioned he would not inform me every little thing.”
Turrubiate-Simpson, who mentioned she was a buddy of the Murdaugh household, additionally testified Alex Murdaugh requested her the day after Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, the couple’s grown son, have been killed at a household property to scrub the house there.
“He mentioned there was going to be individuals in all probability stopping by and bringing meals and stuff,” Turrubiate-Simpson mentioned. “He mentioned I simply need the home to look the best way Maggie would really like for it to look. So, I mentioned OK and I went to the home.”
Alex Murdaugh is on trial for the killings on June 7, 2021. He has pleaded not responsible to 2 counts of homicide and two weapons costs, with the trial anticipated to final about two extra weeks.
In courtroom Wednesday, Alex Murdaugh’s sister Lynn Murdaugh Goettee handed him a ebook by way of a member of his protection group. It was not shared with the sufferer’s advocate, and Goettee had been admonished simply 5 minutes earlier than that, a supply with information of the incident informed CNN.
The ebook was thought-about contraband as a result of it was not clear what was in it, the supply mentioned, including Murdaugh was already again in his jail cell with it earlier than anyone may verify it. The ebook — John Grisham’s “The Decide’s Checklist” — was later confiscated.
The youthful Murdaugh was admonished for the incident, Hill mentioned. Lynn Murdaugh Goettee and Buster Murdaugh have been warned that any extra violations will lead to them being barred from the courtroom.
Amid the ebook incident, Wednesday’s testimony was interrupted when a bomb risk was known as into the clerk’s workplace and the courthouse in Walterboro was evacuated, Hill mentioned. Court docket resumed hours later.
Extra witnesses establish Murdaugh’s voice in video
Turrubiate-Simpson and Nathan Tuten, Paul’s childhood buddy, additionally each recognized in courtroom Friday Alex Murdaugh’s voice in a key video authorities say was recorded shortly earlier than the killings.
Prosecutor hopes to wrap up case subsequent week
Authorized groups on Thursday provided a glimpse into the remaining trial schedule: Closing arguments may begin round February 23, based mostly on attorneys’ estimates — weeks after Friday’s initially scheduled finish date.
The state hoped to relaxation its case by the center of subsequent week, prosecutor Creighton Waters mentioned, whereas the protection will want at the very least per week, protection lawyer Dick Harpootlian mentioned, noting it could possibly be on the shorter facet due to how lengthy testimony already has lasted.
The protection has out-of-state professional witnesses who would require journey and lodging, Harpootlian mentioned, declaring the size of the state’s case is making that troublesome and costly to schedule. The state thus far has known as 44 witnesses and launched greater than 400 displays of proof.
Correction: A earlier model of this story incorrectly reported whose testimony was underway when Buster Murdaugh allegedly made an obscene gesture; it was Mark Tinsley’s. It additionally misstated which John Grisham ebook was confiscated from Alex Murdaugh; it was “The Decide’s Checklist.”
CNN’s Alta Spells contributed to this report.
