ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Alex Murdaugh's attorneys say a swab from Maggie Murdaugh's phone contains unknown male DNA, including material they argue cannot belong to Alex. They also say recent testing identified male genetic material beneath fingernails on both of Maggie's hands. The prosecution disputes how much can be inferred from small samples and cautions that consuming the remaining material might end opportunities for other tests.
At an October 16 pretrial hearing, Judge Debra McCaslin authorized independent testing rather than treating either side's argument as the answer. The defense specifically sought Y-STR analysis to focus on the male component of mixed DNA. The lawyers said the work could take about 90 days. Whether it identifies a person, yields only a partial result, or gives no useful answer remains unresolved.
There was another fight over accuracy in that courtroom. Dick Harpootlian previously told the judge Murdaugh passed a polygraph with flying colors. The judge said he failed the test, which addressed financial matters; he was not tested about the deaths of Maggie and Paul. Defense complaints about late discovery, including 73 gigabytes provided shortly before jury selection in 2023, added to the friction. The court rejected a request for a sweeping comparison of .300 Blackout evidence from unrelated incidents.
Tony Brueski and Robin Dreeke ask what deserves more attention: the samples still waiting for an answer or the courtroom claims that are already being corrected. The retrial is set for April 5, 2027, in Sumter County. Murdaugh continues to deny the killings.
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This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
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