Alex Murdaugh.Photo: Orange County Department of Corrections
Alex Murdaughhas been sitting in jail for more than a year, accused offatally shootinghis wife,Maggie, and son,Paul.
But in a new court filing, Murdaugh’s legal team claims that their client is innocent — and points the finger at his cousin,Curtis “Eddie” Smith.
“Smith decidedly failed a polygraph when questioned if he murdered Maggie and Paul,” the attorneys wrote. “The reason Smith failed the polygraph when asked if he murdered Maggie and Paul is because he in fact did commit these heinous crimes.”
An attorney for Smith did not immediately return PEOPLE’s message.
Alex Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty to the two murder charges. He is facing trial in 2023.
Murdaugh, who was once a prominent attorney in South Carolina, has been disbarred from practicing law. He faces more than 85 criminal charges in addition to the murder counts, many of which were uncovered after police began investigating the family after the murders.
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From left, Buster Murdaugh, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, Paul Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh.Maggie Murdaugh/Facebook
In August 2021, Murdaugh allegedly tried to stage his own death so that his one surviving son, Buster Murdaugh, then 26, could benefit from a $10 million life insurance settlement.
According to prosecutors, Murdaugh had Smith — the same man he has now accused of killing his family —shoot himon the side of the road, but the shooting was unsuccessful and Murdaugh suffered only superficial wounds.
Murdaugh was criminally charged in connection with the alleged botched suicide-for-hire plot and is also awaiting trial in that case.
Murdaugh has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him. His laywers have alleged that he suffers from an opioid addiction that caused him to live a double life. He remains in jail on a $7 million bond.
Attorneys for Murdaugh have not returned PEOPLE’s calls for comment.
source: people.com
