A blood spatter expert hired by the defense to testify in Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial has a hypothesis about the murders of the disgraced attorney’s wife and kid that is game-changing.
Professor Timothy Palmbach of the University of New Haven testified on Monday about his view that Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were slain in a “two-shooter scenario.”
According to the New York Post, Alex Murdaugh’s defense put Palmbach to the stand in the double homicide trial in Colleton County, South Carolina.
“My opinion is the totality of the evidence is more suggestive of a two-shooter scenario,” Palmbach said of the June 2021 shootings.
Blood spatter expert Tim Palmbach believed that the murders of #AlexMurdaugh's wife and son suggest a two-shooter scenario. He also testified that Murdaugh's son Paul was shot first. pic.twitter.com/KzJF9xsh8j
— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) February 27, 2023
Palmbach questioned whether a single assailant could have gotten a rifle and attacked Maggie Murdaugh after shooting Paul with a shotgun.
“Minimally, that shooter is getting covered with his material, getting more or less the shock wave of that effect, and more than likely getting hit with at least something that could have done injury — a bone fragment and or a pellet fragment.”
“I think that particular shooter for a brief period of time is, is kind of out of this.”
According to Palmbach, the two shootings were carried out with a shotgun and a rifle by two distinct perpetrators.
The forensics expert also stated that he believes Paul Murdaugh was shot before he could defend himself.
A blood spatter expert testified #AlexMurdaugh's Paul did not have any signs of defensive wounds. "I frankly think he was startled by that shot," Timothy Palmbach said. pic.twitter.com/ZxATFcI1Ql
— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) February 27, 2023
According to CBS News, Murdaugh has indicated that the murders of his family members were the consequence of a rivalry coming from an earlier boating accident.
The disbarred attorney has acknowledged to lying to law police about his location just before the shooting on his family’s home in Islandton, South Carolina; he was present at the dog kennels where Paul and Maggie were shot to death.
Murdaugh took the stand to defend himself.
"I would never do anything intentionally to hurt either one of them"
Alex Murdaugh, who is taking the stand in his own defense in the murder trial over the deaths of his wife and son, says as he openly wept. pic.twitter.com/dKgfEc8CCh
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 23, 2023
CNN reports that Murdaugh’s defense rested its case on Monday.