we now know officially that alex murdaugh was shot. >> alex murdaugh was changing a tire on the side of the road in rural hampton county saturday when a car passed him, turned around, and someone shot him in the head. >> this is when you wonder if they just started making things up or it was a soap opera somewhere. it seems like it's a tv show more than it seemed like real life, because in this case, how does this get more unusual? and then was it the same person that shot maggie and paul or what may happen as you spin through your mind? >> murdaugh called 9-1-1 shortly after 1:30 in the afternoon to report he'd been shot. he was airlifted to a hospital in savannah for treatment. >> there was an entry and exit wound. murdaugh's skull was fractured and there was minor brain bleeding as well. >> when i first got that call, i was fearing for the worst, like, oh, my god, like he was just killed like another, you know, another death in this family. >> it's a long, twisted, crazy tale of awful things for this family, for everybody concerned. but what we know right now, sled is investigatin

but to see it specifically that alex murdaugh killed paul murdaugh, and alex murdaugh killed maggie murdaughotgun, with a rifle, was almost shocking to see those words come out specifically because i'm not sure if anybody believed he truly pulled both triggers. >> he said simply he had nothing to do with maggie and paul's murder. >> murdaugh appeared in court with a shaved head, wearing clothes from his defense attorney's son, a white linen shirt, khaki pants and gucci shoes. >> part of a long legal legacy, alex murdaugh will soon learn his fate in a courtroom where a painting of his great-grandfather hangs. >> richard alex murdaugh, if that is your name, please raise your right hand. do you waive reading of the indictments? >> yes, sir. >> what say you, richard alex murdaugh? are you guilty or not guilty of the felonies wherein you stand indicted? >> not guilty. >> for the 13 months, has alex's lawyers known that he may have been involved in this and, like, have been working to figure out how to fix this since then? there's questions about who knows the truth, what have they been doing to t

. >> murdaugh, that name means power. they are a great american family who has a successful law firm and had deep roots in their community. money. position. power. the murdaughs have had control of hampton county for close to a century. >> they have held the position of the prosecutor, the solicitor, as we call it, through four generations. >> everyone knows that they are the lawyers in the area. the murdaughs are the justice system. >> kings of the low country. >> literally what took 100 years to build crumbled in one year. >> detectives were called in after 10:00 p.m. where they found two bodies inside. their bodies were found by maggie's husband and paul's father, richard alexander murdaugh. >> the investigation into their murders was extremely closed. authorities were being very tight-lipped about what evidence they gathered, how exactly they even had died. it was all very shrouded in mystery. >> the murdaugh family owned hundreds of acres in this neighborhood, and the people who are their neighbors would not talk abo

." >> tonight, the murdaugh murders.he epic trial of a prominent south carolina lawyer accused of killing his own wife and son. >> did you kill maggie? >> did i kill my wife? no. >> the stunning courtroom revelations. >> he did not appear to be crying. he was upset, but i did not see any visible tears. >> were financial misdeeds behind the crimes? why the defense says this case is far from over. >> they decided that night, he did it. without forensics, without cell phones, without any of that. >>> plus the after after party. a former "saturday nightry to stars. >> children's entertainer jasper hahn, everybody! >> hey, there, jimmy! >> accusing former cast member horacio sands of an inappropriate relationship when she was underage. >> he would use humor in our conversations to steer things in a sexual way. >> alleging that he sexually assaulted her during one of the show's infamous after after parties. >> do you think it was clear to him that you didn't want to participate? >> 1,000%. (vo) purina one has the inside story

but what i don't -- >> finally admits. >> alex murdaugh's lawyers put alex murdaugh's son on the stand asked him, and he said that was not my dad's voice. so alex murdaugh's lawyers, did they know -- has alex murdaugh be lying to his lawyers this entire time? >> he lied to 911. he lied to the investigators. he has lied to everyone. he said he lied to his family, and he kept the lie going, because he didn't know what else to do, anderson, until finally today, this is the first time we have ever heard him say that he was down at those kennels. was his voice on that recording at 8:44 p.m. >> his lawyers didn't even know when they put buster murdaugh on the stand that he was going to say this when he got on the witness stand. this either came as a surprise, you know, whenever he said he was going to testify, he must have told them he is going to say that i've been lying. they wouldn't have put buster murdaugh on the stand and got him to say something which was not true, right? >> right. i would imagine so. we'd have to ask them directly. but certainly they also didn't know if alex murdaugh

murdaugh? >> because it was chaotic, it was hot and i was getting ready to do what i didn't want to do. >> you were getting ready to do what you didn't want to do. getting ready to sweat. to work. >> i went back to the air conditioning. >> so did you say goodbye according to your new story? >> did i say goodbye? >> yeah. >> did you talk to them at all or did you good -- >> i would have said i'm leaving. did i say goodbye or bye. there would have been some exchange, i'm not staying here. >> you have had such a phot graphic memory about these new stories, what happened here. >> that's not -- i can't tell you the exact words. >> you don't remember your conversation after you put the chicken up. did you talk about the chicken? >> no, i don't think we did. >> did you talk with paul about cash's tail? >> after the chicken? >> yeah. >> no. i know i didn't do that. >> did you tell maggie i'll go check on him? >> at that point i don't think. >> it is hot out here i think i'll go back. >> i certainly wou

murdaugh?course they're going to evaluate all the evidence, but alex murdaugh as a person who has lied before, why isn't he lying now? can i beev what he's saying, based on his body language, what he said in the past, his relationship wit his family. they have to take all of that into account in order to reach a decision as to his guilt. >> all right. standby, if you will. we'll have much more from the double murder trial of alex murdaugh, fessing up to stealing millions from clients, fessed up to being hooked on drugs, fessed up to being a liar, but will the jury think he is guilty of murder or did he agender sympathy? we're waiting for r the trial t resume.. ♪ this feels so right... ♪ adt systems now feature google products like the nest cam with floodlight, with intelligent alerts when a person or familiar face is detected. sam. sophie's notere tonight. so you have a me with no worries. brought to you by adt. mucinex nightshift fights your worst nighttime symptoms so you can get to sleep and

and another long day of testimony here from alex murdaugh. a real focus on the time line here, what he was doing at the particular moments. what more have we learned in this trial? >> reporter: we're just now really getting into the thick of discussing what happened the night of the murders june 7, 2021. so much of the cross-examination had been focused on the financial crimes and allegations against alex murdaugh dating back about a dozen years. but what we're watching the prosecutor do is go minute by minute at some points second by second what murdaugh was doing the night of the murders. and so much of it was hinged on what he said that he was never down there at the ken untilnels that was not true, he had lied to law enforcement. and waters has continued to talk about the fact that this is a story that keeps changing. he had repeated saying that this is a story that you are now telling. and at some points disdain for alex murdaugh who has tried to answer some of these, but has not come up with exact answers for certain periods of time. an

there he goes, alex murdaugh, crying and crying. there is a report that one of the juror,handed him a box of kleenex, did they believe him? he did a great job, but during cross-examination. it began to fall apart under the beating he took from the prosecutor. this is is the reason you should never take the stand, remember that fifth amendment right to remain see lent, listen to our cut number 12. >> i don't believe doing that. i don't believe that i ever had one of those, i don't think a single thing about that, not they remember, i don't recall. mr. waters if if did, i sure don't recall it. i don't remember taking an oath. i have no idea. i don't know. i don't know. i don't know. i don't know. but i don't believe so, but i really don't know. >> you don't believe so. >> i don't remember having, that i don't know. >> you don't remember that. >> i don't remember that. no, sir i don't know. i i don't have a specific memory, i can say, i don't remember it or wall this mr. waters. nancy: okay. you know what that is not enough. after mult

that puts murdaugh there four minutes before their time of death.really putting together the pieces here in order to narrow when paul and maggie were murdered. now, keep in mind defense put the coroner on the stand, who says from his examination there's a three-hour time span. it's an estimate, 9:00 p.m. to your point, that cell phone data and lack of cell phone activity is absolutely critical to the prosecution's case. >> and the defense is now presenting its case. what do you expect to hear from them? >> well, i know exactly where they're going here. they're going to say this is a botched crime scene, which is true. this crime scene was mishandled in almost every way. that came out through testimony. they're going to say that matters because there could have been alternative theories of the case or other people investigators should have been looking at as the perpetrator of this crime. they really set the foundation for this the entire time. they're going to try and use these financial misdeeds and the drug problem that's come to light to say murd

it is absolutely the decision of alex murdaugh to decide.ange his mind at any moment up until the time he is sworn in. this is very risky. it's always risky for a defendant to take the stand because not only is he going to be questioned by his own attorney, he's going to be grilled and in this case i would suspect a tough cross-examination by the prosecpr prose prosecutors. we know that alex has given inconsistent statements, he said he was not at the kennels before his wife and son were murdered, even though it appears there's this videotape that shows at least his voice can be heard on. so he has to explain why he has given a statement that is contradicted by this clip that was taken from his son's cell phone. >> areva, i have to ask you, the prosecution is depending the case on the snapchat video and the timing and location where it placed him in the minutes prior to that murder. in your view is the prosecution proving its case? >> it's a difficult case, jim. it's all circumstantial evidence, they don't have the murder weapons, they don't

murdaugh denying he manufactured an alibi. our team at the courthouse >>> also tonight, ukraine marking one year of war with russia president zelenskyy's defiant message as the fighting rages on. the u.s. announcing $2 billion in new aid for ukraine, and the new peace plan being offered by china >>> the new winter storm slamming the west rare blizzard warnings in southern california we're tracking it. >>> our nbc news exclusive, mike pence on the special counsel's push to force him to testify about january 6th. his plans for 2024 and why he thinks the gop needs to move on from donald trump >>> yet another scare on the nation's runways. how close two planes came to disaster. >>> tensions in the sky. our correspondent aboard a u.s. surveillance plane as it's intercepted by a chinese fighter jet. >>> they went from ballet to the battlefield. now after a year of war, their powerful tributes ♪ >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening, and thank you for joining us tonight alex murdaugh's sometimes f

murdaugh due on the stand in a couple moments. we're back after a quick break. y for a payroll tax refund of up to $26,000 per employee, even i if it received ppp, and all it takes is eight minutes to get started. thenen we'll work with you to fill out your forms and submit thehe application; that easy. and if your business doesn'tt get paid, we don't get paid. getrefunds.com has helped businesses like yours claim over $2 billion but it's only available for a limited time. go to getrefunds.com, powered by innovation refunds. what's the #1 retinol brand used most by dermatologists? it's neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair® smooths the look of fine lines i1-week, deep wrinkles in. so you c kiss wrinkles goodbye! neutrogena® your shipping manager left to “find themself.” leaving you lost. you need to hire. i need indeed. indeed you do. indeed instant match instantly delivers quality candidates matching your job description. visit indeed.com/hire get help reaching your goals with j.p. morgan wealth plan, a new tool in the chase mobile® a

murdaugh? >> it was chaotic, it was hot and i was getting ready to do exactly what i didn't want to do. >> you were getting ready to do what you didn't want to do? >> that's correct. i was getting ready to sweat, getting ready to work, i wanted to go back to the air conditioner. >> did you say good-bye? according to your new story? >> did i say good-bye? >> yeah. did you talk to them at all or did you just get the chicken, put it on there, and take off? >> i wouldn't have just gone off. i would have said i'm leaving. >> okay. >> did i say good-bye, bye? there would have been some -- there would have been some exchange. i'm not staying here. >> what was that exchange? you had such a photographic memory about the new stories, what happened here? >> that's not -- i can't tell you the exact words. >> you don't remember your conversation after you put that chicken up? did you talk about the chicken? >> no. i don't think we did. >> did you talk with paul about cash's tail? >> after the chicken? >> ye

murdaugh? >> you did ask me. in asking me that, you're putting an implication on there that i am explaining. >> i just asked you what you said. >> yes, sir. >> thank you. nothing further. >> you may step down. >> let's stand for a moment while counsel approaches. >> neil: we're going to continue watching this. this has been a chance for the defense and prosecution to go back and forth and raise questions about the voracity of many of the things that mr. murdaugh has said. i believe we have ted williams available right now. ted, what do you make of where this stands right now in this -- these hours upon hours, two days running now where you've had murdaugh subjected to pretty heated questioning certainly on the part of the prosecution and some clarified with tough questioning from his own defense team. your thoughts. >> neil, you know, i've been in this business the criminal justice system for well over 35 years as a lawyer. i can tell you one of the things that i never want to do, especially in a criminal case of

how the state cross-examines murdaugh. his attorneys were quite concerned about bringing all the other charges he is facing, the financial charges, the charges of fraud. the state will be able to ask him about some of them, and the defense is worried will the other allegations and other potential crimes cloud the jurors' viewpoints when alex murdaugh has to answer those questions or chooses not to so he doesn't incriminate him on this stand for the potential charges he faces after this one. >> so much more to be revealed. dianne gallagher, thank you. >>> joining us is bernarda villanova. you also have been covering this case from the beginning. the very first comments on the stand were frankly pretty jaw dropping, admitting he lied to police, and when he denied he was around those kennels at the time of the murder, what is the strategy here, putting him on the stand to perhaps clear the air? >> abby, he had no choice to admit he had. he had no idea that video exists, and completely implicates him. he could not run from it,

but prosecutors as painted murdaugh as aanipulative man whnnple fors. they claim maher dogue killed his wife and son as part of a separate civil case involving his son, paul, who was charged with boating under the influence in a crash that killed a 19-year-old girl. police body camera from the night of the murder shows murdaugh suggesting the boat crash as the killer's motive. >> my son was in a boat wreck. he's been getting threats. i know that's what it is. >> reporter: before wrapping its case last week, the prosecution showed jurors footage of investigators questioning murdaugh two months after the murders. >> did you kill maggie? >> no. did i kill my wife. >> yes. >> no. >> reporter: prosecutors also played video recorded by paul murdaugh just before his death, showing his father wearing a different outfit from the white t-shirt and shorts he had on when police arrived. >> so is prosecution may have been very, very effective, but it's getting to that motive that becomes the stretch. >> reporter: the defense team tells me they're concerning putting

our randi kaye was in the courtroom. >> i'm alex murdaugh, and you -- murdaugh. >> murdaugh, sharing his story from the witness stand, telling the jury, he did not kill his wife and son. >> just to be clear, were you anywhere in the vicinity where paul and maggie were shot? >> i was nowhere near paul and maggie, when they got shot. >> and after more than a year and a half, murdaugh finally came clean about this key piece of states evidence against him. >> -- >> mr. murdaugh, is that you? on video at 4 pm -- the night maggie and paul were murdered? >> yes. -- over and over, he said he had not seen his family since dinner but that video extracted from his son's phone was recorded just a few minutes between before prosecutors believe the killings happened. -- he had left the candles -- and driven his golf cart to the main course of the property. -- >> there's no way that i had high velocity blood spatter on me. >> during cross examination, murdaugh clashed with -- lead prosecutor. >> mr. waters just to try to get through this quicker -- >> you may want to get throug

alex murdaugh testifies in his own defense. the first questions aimed at the heart of the case >> did you take this gun or any gun like it and blow your son's brains out on june 7th or any day or any time >> no, i did not >> did you take 300 blackout such as this and fire it into your wife maggie's leg, torso, or any part of her body >> no, i did not >> reporter: quick to confront what is perhaps the prosecution's strongest evidence, the video taken by paul murdaugh at the dog kennels, placing alex at the crime scene minutes before the murders. he's told investigators he wasn't there, but admits now he was lying. >> alex, why did you lie? >> as my addiction evolved over time, i would get in these situations or circumstances where i would get paranoid >> reporter: murdaugh says he didn't trust state law enforcers, and regrets the lie that led to many others >> did you continue lying after that night, did you not >> once i lied, i continued to lie yes, sir. >> reporter: emotional and crying throughout, murdaugh's testimony largel

murdaugh? >> you seem to be implying two dates, june the 7th and september in talking about accountability issues, and, i mean, to me those two things are totally different. there were no accountability issues on my doorstep on june the 7th. >> that's what you say. >> and in september. >> that's not what other people say -- >> i was trying it -- been a lot of people -- well, in september that wasn't designed to gain me sympathy. that was designed for me not to be here because i didn't want my son to have to deal with the wake of the things that i had done. >> that's not the story you told. the story that came out of your mouth right away was the story of you getting attacked by some unknown assailant while you were trying to change a tire and run flats, that's the story that you told. >> that is the story i told but that's because the man who shot me did not shoot me that day as i intended. and i had to have a story as to how i got shot, so i lied. >> so you lied? >> and you're saying that peop

including the time line they say puts murdaugh at the scene of the crime. >>> the weekend is here. saturday, february 18, thank you so much for waking up with us. always great to be with you bright and early. >> i wish you were right here next to me to keep me energized. it was a rough night but we won't go into that. >> a rough start for all of us. sometimes you have to fake it until you make it, right? >> i'll did o that. >>> up first this morning, vice president kamala harris is preparing to condemn russia during a major speech happening this hour. harris is addressing diplomats and military officials at the munich security conference just a few moments away. her speech coming just days before the one year anniversary of the russian invasion of ukraine. >> and president zelenskyy addressed the conference and stressed the need to speed up the delivery of weapons to ukraine. he says with the world's help, ukraine can stop putin's a aggression. >> we teetedeter russian strike. yes. can we liberate our land? there are 1891 proofs of this that is exactly how many cities, towns, villa

murdaugh said it was bad guiliana was advising trump. this tells you a lot about fox news internal machinations. it tells you they have one version of the world they keep to themselves and another they broadcast to their viewers. the two are entirely incompatible. in one instance, a fox reporter did a fact check on election lies. tucker carlson texted shawn hand at a saying please get her fired. seriously. what the f? he goes on, i'm actually shocked. it needs to stop immediately, like tonight. it's measurably hurting the company. why did fox keep pushing election denial on the air? the filings in the dominion suit suggest that fox executives were worried about losing viewers to news max, a smaller conservative channel that was constantly selling election denial. trump himself, furious that fox had called arizona for biden, had encouraged his followers to switch to news max. >> since 2002, fox news has basically been a preemiements ratings champion in cable news, and you see here the moment that they see any sign that might be slipping a

murdaugh, is that you on the kennel video at 8:44 p.m. on june 7th, the night maggie and paul were murdered? >> it is. >> were you, in fact, at the kennels at 8:44 p.m. on the night maggie and paul were murdered? >> i was. >> did you lie to them by telling them that you were not down at the kennels on that night? >> yes. >> reporter: murdaugh blaming those lies on his paranoia, fueled by an opioid addiction and his distrust of state investigators. >> i wasn't thinking clearly. i don't think i was capable of reason.an i d there. and i'm so sorry that i did. >> reporter: apologizing to his family, repeatedly referring to his wife and son by their nicknames. >> most of all, i'm sorry to mags and paul-paul. i would never intentionally do anything to hurt either one of them. >> reporter: but he said he kept lying. >> once i lied, i continue to lie. yes, sir. >> why? >> you know -- oh, what a tangled web we weave. >> reporter: after paul shot that video at 8:44, murdaugh claims he went up to the house, dozed on the couch, then left to visit his

murdaugh?>> nothing further. >> the context, as you well know, valerie, to the first officer on the scene, he was already off to the races and lying. >> you know, it gave me chills just to hear that again, because it was a powerful moment. mr. waters has not tried a lot of criminal cases but his command of the facts of the case is really impressive. and he knew that mr. murdaugh was trying to say, i started lying to investigators because i mistrust them, they've investigated my family. but he knew that he told the first officer on the scene and it's in the body cam footage, lies from the beginning. so he was able to kind of corner mr. murdaugh in a way in another lie. >> 283 steps, we've heard all about his activity, apparently it wasn't jumping jacks or a peloton machine. but we don't have the guns. there are still missing pieces in this, right? >> there are a lot of missing pieces in this. they don't have the guns. they don't have the clothes that alex murdaugh was wearing earlier in the even

murdaugh on that video at 8:44 p.m. scene around the time of the murder, so that could be a program for him. getting back to that testimony from the pathologist, we did learn some more details about the autopsies. she said that the first shot to paul murdaugh did not kill him, he was shot in the chest, the second shot was to the shoulder and the head, that was the fatal shot. she also said that he was standing at the time, there were no signs of a struggle and that he was facing his attacker, facing the shooter. so if it was his father as the prosecution alleges, he was looking right at him. as far as maggie murdaugh goes, the pathologist says she was shot at least four or five times, there were four or five wounds on her, the fatal shots were fired when she was on the ground including one to the back of the head. no sign of a struggle with her, either. erica, jim? >> details are alarming. randi kaye, thanks so much. >>> here in the studio defense and trial attorney misty maris. as we go through some of what we learned

murdaugh. bad things happen. >> reporter: in the hot seat for a second day, alex murdaugh facing a blistering cross-examination. >> the second that you're confronted with facts that you can't deny, you immediately come up with a new lie. isn't that correct? >> i would disagree with that proposition that you're putting out. >> reporter: prosecutors hitting hard on murdaugh's time line inconsistencies onhe night of the murders and murdaugh pushing back in his own defense, even becoming combative when challenged on his memory of finding his wife's body. >> and you're dang right i remember what -- why i went to her and for what reason. >> because the only thing you're concerned about is yourself. >> reporter: answering some questions with clear certainty addressing his 20-year addiction to opioids, admitting he had pills in his pocket even as he spoke to investigators the night of the murders. >> so you're taking 60 a day or something like that? >> there were days where i took more than that. there

>> that's correct. >> whose voices did you recognize, paul murdaugh, maggie murdaugh, alec murdaugh.re are you? >> 100%. >> with all that they're hearing, how impactful are the three witnesses? >> i think the very impactful. i think the alibi defense is starting to unravel and another piece of evidence introduced this week was the caregiver for alec's murder and said to the police after he called 911 and reported the murder that he had fallen asleep after dinner, about 8:15 on the couch, and he goes over to his mom's house for a while and comes back and finds the bodies. unfortunately, the caregiver for the mother said he was only there for about 20 minutes even though he was trying to could he -- coerce her or convince her he was there for 40 minutes. >> and this is all direct and circumstantial evidence so the alibi defense is starting to fall apart. >> and the prosecutor intested that murdaugh killed them because of the finances he was facing and the judge is allowing and it's complicated. how much of a challenge for the prosecution to make a direct line of the financial aspect to

but you have alex murdaugh lying about an alibi, right?roximity minutes before the two were killed. you have all this other stuff going on in his life including prescription drug addiction and financial crimes. i mean, how do you make a circumstantial -- how do you tell that circumstantial story enough to convict if you are the prosecution? >> when you have a circumstantial case like that, it is all about connecting the doubts. so the prosecution put on their case, they introduced evidence before this jury. now it is their job at the end of this trial to connect the dots and of course as the defense present their witnesses, cross-examine them effectively so that they can make the argument that although this is circumstantial, they have still approach that murdaugh committed the murders. of course the prosecution doesn't have all the more of a tough job, but it will be interesting to see now that the prosecution has rested and the defense expected to present the case and wrap up possibly by early next week or even at the end of this week. h

murdaugh. is that the moment right there?at the look on your face when you decided to lie about an important fact in your wife and son's murder? >> i don't know as i said, mr. waters, i don't know the exact point i made that decision. >> you specifically earlier mentioned that very exchange as somehow triggering you to lie about the last time you saw them alive. >> no, i'm not saying that that's what made me lie. i'm saying this whole set of circumstances caused me to be in a state where i had paranoid thoughts. >> okay. that normally mr. waters i could take a deep pregnant and making away in a -- i could take a deep breath and making away in a second or two seconds or three seconds at the most and on this night i wasn't able to do that. but all of those things i mentioned i believe contributed to that. >> any more you want to add now since you keep adding? >> i'd be glad to answer any question you have. >> i'm asking you. the factors went from yesterday to today and now even after lunch we got new ones so anything else you w

i think that murdaugh is now smiling. he is happier than five guys on a ski trip because he knows that while the prosecutor approached his jugular, he just squeezed it and never made it clear for the jurors 100% that this guy is void of credibility. >> it is still circumstantial. >> it is a big problem for the prosecution. but i think the prosecutor was effective in narrowing the time line showing how implausible it is. >> when he ticks off all the things that would have had to have happened, it doesn't really make any sense. >> right. it is a very narrow time frame now that the defendant has admitted that was him at the kennels. he talked about the dogs not barking which reminded me of the famous sherlock holmes story. the motion that somebody would have shown up at exactly the right window when murdaugh himself would have left unarmed, knowing there would be guns available. driven out the way he did and left the wife's phone in that route. it does seem really implausible. on the other hand, right, is there possible reas

the sister of murdaugh's slain wife taking the stand for the prosecution. catie beck now on what she revealed to the jury >> reporter: on the stand tuesday with striking resemblance to maggie murdaugh, her older sister marion proctor >> is that the last time you talked to her? >> yes >> reporter: testifying through tears about the night she learned her sister and nephew were murdered >> i didn't think it was true i said there has to be a mistake. >> reporter: recently released police body cam footage also shows alex murdaugh emotional that night, distraught and pacing when police arrived. >> it's official that they're dead >> yes, sir, that's what it looks like >> reporter: proctor recalls a conversation with murdaugh in the days after the murders when she says he oddly claimed his top priority was then to clear paul's name in the boat crash case. >> thought his priority should have been focusing on finding out who killed maggie and paul. >> reporter: she recalls murdaugh's devastation, but says they never discussed a search for a killer, despite concern fr

alex murdaugh testifies in his own defense. the first questions aimed at the heart of the case. >> does this gun or any gun like it and blow your son's brains out on june 7th or any day or anytime? >> no, i did not. >> did you take the such as this and fire it into your wife maggie's leg, torso, or any part of her body? >> no, i did not. >> quick to confront what is perhaps the prosecution's strongest evidence. the video taken by paul murdoch at the dog candles, placing alec at the crime scene minutes before the murders. he told investigators he wasn't there, but admits now he was lying. >> alec, why did you lie? >> it's as my addiction evolved over time, i would get in these situations, the circumstances where i would get paranoid. >> murdaugh said he did not trust law enforcers and regrets the law that led to many others. >> you continued lying after that night. >> once allied, i continue to lie, yes sir. >> emotional and crying throughout, murdoch's testimony largely writes his timeline on the night of the murders. showering

murdaugh? >> the only way for your story to work is it has to be missing as well. you told law enforcement it was missing at christmas time. now we've had testimony at this trial and you're still claiming you never saw it. it must have been kept somewhere else. where else would it have been kept? >> could have been kept anywhere, mr. waters. the way guns were handles around there. i was terrible about that. >> terrible about that. >> i should have been stricter. >> but you know that that third gun was fired right outside the gun room door in turkey season of 2021, correct? >> i know that now based on what will lovin said. >> and you know it was also fired across the street at ya'll's shooting house around that same time, don't you? >> no, sir, i don't know that. but i know that -- i would assume that it was fired at the shooting range. i have no -- i don't have any reason to believe it was done in close proximity to that time. >> a few months go by a couple months go by. you get confronted abou

murdaugh's team are going to try to say that the time of death could have been after 9:06 when alex murdaugh. and, remember, they don't have to prove that is correct they just have to tell the jury it's a reasonable possibility that this happened during that time frame, the prosecution didn't prove its case. that's going to be critical. >> other parts of the defense strategy, the possibility of murdaugh's surviving son testifying, how do juries react to testimony from family members like that? the expectation here is he will describe a loving relationship between murdaugh and his deceased wife and son. >> right. so we expect him to testify about that loving relationship. remember the defense critical to their case. he might be a liar, he might have done all of these other financial misdeeds, but he would never kill his family. there's no reason why he would do that. he was a loving father. we expect to hear that. we will probably also hear about some of the threats that the family has faced, again, this goes to the defense alternative theory of the case, botched investigation, somebody else

. >>> cell phone video played in the alex murdaugh trial today. the prosecution playing this video from alex murdaugh's son's phone. it was taken just minutes before the murders. and what they say it shows. eva pilgrim reporting. >>> the high stakes meeting at the white house. president biden and house speaker kevin mccarthy. did they find any common ground? what was said afterward? rachel scott live on the hill. >>> the warning from the cdc tonight about a very common brand of eye drops. they are investigating a death and dozens of cases of infections, some leading to blindness. >>> and tom brady, and what he said today about retiring for real. gisele and her message tonight. and the sports stars, including patrick mahomes, and their message tonight. and it's universal. >>> good evening and it's great to have you with us here on a very busy wednesday night. and we begin tonight with 45 million americans under alerts. the dangerous cold moving in, all the way up to the northeast. wind chills in some places expected to hit 50 below zero. and this d

the jury, a family friend identified alex murdaugh's voice in a video recorded by murdaugh's son minutesis mother were killed. >> a chicken. >> reporter: even though alex murdaugh had claimed not to be home at the time. >> do you recognize paul's voice? >> yes, sir. >> do you recognize maggie's voice? >> yes, sir. >> do you recognize alex's voice? >> yes, sir. >> 100%? >> yes, sir. >> reporter: the family friend testified he wasn't aware of any problems in murdaugh's finances. >> can you think of any circumstance that you can envision, knowing them as you do, where alex would brutally murder paul and maggie? >> not that i can think of. >> reporter: the jury returns here midday tomorrow when the trial resumes. murdaugh is part of a famed family, legal dynasty in south carolina, and his surviving son is on the witness list. for the defense. norah? >> norah: scott macfarlane, thank you. back here in washington, there was a heated debate on the house floor this afternoon that included shouting, accusations of racism, and tears. it all took place as republicans voted to kick democratic congre

murdaugh blaming his addiction for paranoia and distrust he claims fueled his lies. murdaugh distraught, describing the moment he says he found the bodies of his wife and son and describing how broken, he says, he is by their loss. abc's eva pilgrim in the courtroom in south carolina. >> the defendant richard alexander murdaugh wishes to take the stand. >> reporter: before a hushed courtroom, accused double murderer alex murdaugh taking the stand in his own defense. the disgraced attorney immediately denying he shot his wife maggie and son paul to death. >> mr. murdaugh, did you take this gun or any gun like it and blow your son's brains out on june 7th or any day or any time? >> no, i did not. take a blackoi wi g,le eporter: but murdaugh admitting lying to police about when he last saw his wife and son, admitting it was his voice on that video from the crime scene shot minutes before the murders. >> he's got a bird in his mouth! >>ub bba!ugs eot 8:44 p.m. on e keelisma >> were you, in fact, at the kennels at 8:44 p.m. othe ght >> i was. >> did you lie to them by ll

murdaugh, is that you on the kennel video on june 7th, 2021?s. >> were you in fact at the kennel the night that paul and maggie were murdered? >> i was. >> did you lie to agent roy rutland on the night of june 7th and told them that you stayed at the house after dinner. >> i did lie to them. >> did you lie to agent owen and agent kroft on june 10th, that the last time that you saw maggie and paul was at dinner? >> i did lie to them. >> and the the interview of august 11th, did you tell agent owen and agent kroft, did you lie to them by telling them that you were not down at the kennels on that night? >> yes. >> alex, why did you lie to agent owen, agent kroft and deputy rutland about the last time that you saw maggie and paul? >> as my addiction evolved over time, i would get in these situations and circumstances where i would get paranoid thinking, and it could be anything that triggered it. maybe a look that somebody gave me or a reaction that something i did, and it might be a policeman following me in a car. that night, june 7th, after find

alex murdaugh takes the stand in his own defense.he night his wife and son were murdered. >>> wild winter weather. slamming areas coast to coast. some places seeing unprecedented snow totals, and it's not over yet. >>> ukraine on high alert. the u.s. warns russia could take action to mark one year of the invasion. we'll take you to kyiv. >>> good morning, and good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. we begin with dramatic testimony after alex murdaugh took the stand in his murder trial.th

murdaugh telling her sons to sue him for the insurance money. >> did you trust mr. murdaugh? >> yes. >> reporter: the housekeeper's son testifying murdaugh offered her children about $100,000 each. they had no idea he got more than $4 million from his insurance company. they didn't learn of it until after the murders. >> had he ever told you there was an umbrella policy for $5 million? >> no. >> did you give him permission to steal your money? >> no. >> reporter: the ballistics expert did testify that old shell casings found on the family's property matched the markings of those found near maggie's body, suggesting that one of the missing murder weapons had been fired on the property before. david? >> eva pilgrim tonight, thank you. >>> when we come back here, news coming in from the tyre nichols investigation. what we just learned about one of officers seen on that video. >>> and later news involving the dallas zoo and the owl in new york city. could be a sign that your digestive system isn't at its best. but a little metamucil everyday can help. metamucil's psyllium fiber g

keep in mind, murdaugh's phone showed no activity from 8:09 to 9:02. he says he left it at the main house when he went down to the kennels. >> you would agree with me from 9:02 to 9:06 your phone finally comes to life and starts showing a lot of steps? that's far more steps in a shorter time period than any time prior as you've seen from the testimony in this case. what were you so busy doing? going to the bathroom? >> no, i don't think i went to the bathroom. >> get on a treadmill. >> no, i didn't get on a tr trea treadmill. >> jog in place? >> no, i wasn't jogging in place. what i wasn'ting it is doing anything as i believe you've implied that i was cleaning off or washing off or washing off guns, putting guns in a raincoat, i can promise you i wasn't doing any of that. >> reporter: along with all the steps murdaugh took, data presented in court shows he made a flurry of phone calls. >> finally having your phone in your hand moving around and making all these phone calls to manufacture an alibi, is that not true? >> absolutely incorrect. >> reporter:

he says that was just before paul murdaugh recorded this kennel video. be heard talking in the background. >> it could have been 8:47 before i left out of there. >> reporter: murdaugh estimated it's about a two-minute drive on the golf cart from the kennel to the main house, which would put him there at 8:49 p.m. the very same time prosecutors say maggie and paul's phones ceased all activity, suggesting they were dead. once back at the house -- >> you laid down on the couch? >> that's correct. >> reporter: keep in mind, murdaugh's phone showed no activity from 8:09 to 9:02. he says he left it at the main house when he went down to the kennels. >> you would agree with me from 9:02 to 9:06, your phone finally comes to life and starts showing a lot of steps. that's far more steps in a short time period than any time prior. so what were you so busy doing? going to the bathroom? >> no, i don't think -- >> got on the treadmill. >> no, i didn't get in the treadmill. >> jog in place? >> i didn't jog in place. what i wasn't doing is doing anything, as i believe y

. >>> the defense rests in alex murdaugh's trial. his brother took the stand with emotional testimony. the details he gave the night his nephew and sister-in-law were found dead. captioning funded by cbs his nephew and sister-in-law were found dead. >>> good morning and good to be >>> well, good morning and good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. breaking overnight now, a powerful winter storm is moving into parts of the northeast. snow, sleet, and rain are expected to continue falling in new york city today. up to 7 inches of snow is possible in interior portions of the region. forecasters also expecting wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour. the same system pounded the south. at least eight tornadoes ripped through oklahoma overnight monday, tearing roofs off homes and flipping trucks. one woman said the wind shattered the window right next to her 10-year-old daughter's bed. >> she threw her blanket over her head and she waited for me to come get her. >> the storm brought golf ball-sized hail to texas. it also spun up dust storms i

. >>> a dramatic day of testimony in the alex murdaugh trial. the defense grilling authorities about what they found or didn't find the day after the murders. and prosecutors on a piece of video from the same day of the murders. and the question they say it now raises. eva pilgrim reporting. >>> the war in ukraine tonight, and vladimir putin's new nuclear threat. >>> and robin roberts tonight from new zealand. the beauty and the warning about climate, and what's changing already. >>> good evening and it's great to have you with us here on a thursday night. and we begin tonight with the breaking headline late today. the pentagon briefing reporters just before we came on the air, saying they are now tracking a suspected chinese spy balloon hovering over the northern u.s. it was spotted over montana and other northern states. montana, of course, home to several sensitive nuclear sites. now, we are told the suspected chinese surveillance balloon is the size of three buses, with a technology base suspended below. and for a time in montana, air traffi

president vlodymyr zelenskyy to western allies gathered in munich, a live report just ahead, the murdaughder trial enters a new phase as the prosecution rests its case. and concerns about artificial intelligence after microsoft's chat bot gave users dark unsettling responses, you'll want to see it >> live from cnn center, this is cnn newsroom with paula newton. >>> few hours from now, u.s. vice president kamala harris is expected to deliver a major speak at the munich security conference, the u.s. has been a big supplier of weapons and equipment to ukraine and harris is leading a large american delegation to that conference. friday, she met with french president emmanuel macron who said europe's stability depends on defeating russia in ukraine and worth noting that no russian officials were invited to the conference, cnn nick robertson is covering it for us in munich and joins us with latest. i have to say nick, you're a veteran of this conference and so it's very good to have you there especially to see a difference, stunning staggering and sad difference the year has made. we talked abo

murdaugh? >> ask that question again. >> the circumstance for your latest story is it's got to be missing, as well? you told law enforcement it was missing at christmastime. now we've had testimony at this tr trial, and now you are claiming you never saw it, it must have been kept somewhere else. where could it have been kept? >> it could have been kept anywhere, mr. waters, the way guns were handled around there. i was terrible about that. >> you were terrible about that. >> i should have been stricter. >> but you know that third gun was fired right outside the gun room door in turkey season of 2021, correct? >> i know that now. based on what will said. >> you know it was also fired across the street around that same time, don't you? >> no, sir, i don't know that. i would assume that it was fired at the shooting range, but i have no -- i don't have any reason to believe it was done in close proximity to that time . >> a few months go by. a couple months go by. and you get confronted about your