Expert believes Alex Murdaugh’s height could prove he didn’t fatally shoot wife Maggie Murdaugh, here’s why
WALTERBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA: A forensic engineer in Alex Murdaugh’s high-profile trial for the murders of his wife and son on June 7, 2021, has suggested that Maggie Murdaugh was shot by a 5’2” shooter and not by her 6’4” husband. North Carolina-based expert Mike Sutton said it would be “very unlikely that a tall person made that shot."
Testifying for the defense on day 21 of the double-homicide trial on Tuesday, February 21, Mike told the court that he believes the culprit who shot Maggie with an AR-15-style rifle had to be 5’2” to 5’4” based on the projection of one of the bullets at the crime scene. “It puts the shooter or whoever fired the weapon, if they were that tall, it puts them in an unrealistic shooting position. It’s not an aiming position, it’s not a shooting position. … It would be very difficult. You would have to be bending over and have your shooting hand down at or below your kneecap," he said, reports CNN.
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In addition to crime scene reconstruction, Mike also examined if Alex could hear the shots if he had been inside the residence when the shots were fired. He said, “You would not be able to hear it." And added, "There were times we fired the shotgun, and in a quiet house you couldn’t hear it at all.” Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian further said, "And the shotgun, I assume, was quieter, so I assume even less of an opportunity to hear that."
How Paul and Maggie were shot?
According to the prosecution, Paul was shot in the chest and head with a shotgun at close range. On the other hand, Maggie was shot with 300 Blackout ammo from an AR-style rifle. She was shot multiple times, including one shot in the back and additional shots, reports People.
The Murdaugh murders in June 2021
Alex found the bodies of his son Paul and wife Maggie at their hunting lodge on Moselle Road in Islandton, Colleton County, on June 7, 2021. He placed a 911 call at 10.07 pm and he told the dispatcher, “I need the police and ambulance immediately. My wife and child have been shot badly,” reports The Post and Courier. He told her he found his wife and son dead on the ground near their property’s kennels. He said while crying, "I’ve been up to it, and it’s bad," and pleaded “Please hurry." Records showed Maggie and Paul were shot with different types of long guns, as per WRDW. In July 2022, Alex got indicted for the murders. At that time, his attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, said in a statement, "Alex wants his family, friends and everyone to know that he did not have anything to do with the murders of Maggie and Paul. He loved them more than anything in the world," quotes CNN.
Alex Murdaugh murder trial
The trial started on January 25, 2023. So far, the jury has heard from over 61 witnesses and reviewed several pieces of evidence, reports Daily Beast. Alex's surviving son, Buster, also took the stand during the February 21 session and said, "He said 'are you sitting down?' He sounded odd, and then he told me that my mom and my brother had been shot," reports People. He testified that he and his girlfriend immediately rushed to the location. "He was heartbroken," Buster said about his father's reaction when he arrived. "I walked in the door and saw him, gave him a hug." "He was destroyed," the son added.