Alex Murdaugh trial: Court erupts in laughter after dismissed juror wants her 'dozen eggs' before leaving
WALTERBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA: Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial hearing was halted by a rejected juror's demand to leave with her "dozen eggs," which made the entire courtroom laugh. The juror, who was being dismissed for misconduct, requested to leave with her belongings that she had left in the jury chamber, and the judge was surprised to see "a dozen eggs" mentioned on the list she had provided.
Judge Clifton Newman said on the morning of Thursday, March 2 in Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, that female juror number 785 had been dismissed from the panel for discussing the case with at least three people who weren't on the jury. “We have to deal with the issue involving the removal of a juror,” he told the court, in what represents the recent interruption to the double murder case. The judge mentioned that he had just received a complaint from a member of the public alleging that one of the jury members had discussed the matter with numerous individuals who were not on the jury panel. It was also revealed that the juror has also expressed her thoughts on the evidence she had seen in the case.
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Judge Newman summoned the member of the jury in and informed her that she will be dismissed after informing the defense and prosecution of his decision in court. When questioned if she had left anything in the jury room, the juror caused the courtroom to erupt in laughter as she answered, "a dozen eggs."
'SLED has made another bad judgment in this case'
Judge Newman, the defense, the prosecution, and even Murdaugh laughed at this, and the court staff was sent to get her eggs from the jury chamber and bring them back to her. In spite of the humorous event, Murdaugh's defense lawyer Dick Harpootlian objected to the judge's handling of the jury issue by SLED, which included one of the agents who had provided testimony.
The probe being conducted by SLED, Harpootlian said, "It is muddled. SLED has made another bad judgment in this case. This is just a continuum of a calamity of errors." The panel of 12 jurors who will render the verdict was expanded by selecting an additional juror from the remaining two alternates.
What was said by the defense?
The defense has delivered its closing statements in an effort to alarm the jury about Murdaugh's alleged guilt. The defense has consistently worked to undermine the credibility of the state's investigation and portray Murdaugh as a devoted husband and father who could never have slain his wife and son. They have also suggested that two unidentified shooters were actually responsible for the killings.