Tuesday headlines: Murdaugh trial to start 5th week with defense testimony

Attorneys for disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who is accused of murdering his wife and younger son, are expected to open their defense today with testimony from Murdaugh’s surviving son Buster and an accident reconstructionist, according to sources close to CNN. The Colleton County trial enters its fifth week today.

Prosecutors rested their case Friday after calling more than 60 witnesses to bolster their argument that Murdaugh shot and killed his wife and son. Their case also focused on other alleged crimes by Murdaugh, which the defense said was irrelevant to the murders.

The crux of the prosecution’s case rested on “when Murdaugh is confronted with his own misdeeds, he spins a web of lies like a spider luring prey, only he’s the one ensnared and in need of saving,” according to a report by South Carolina Public Radio.

In other headlines:

Ukrainian soldiers visit Charleston after receiving prosthetics. A group of Ukrainian soldiers who received prosthetics in Minnesota are in Charleston to learn how to use their new limbs as they enjoy the Lowcountry.

Charleston airport an ‘economic pillar’ in S.C., according to study. Charleston International Airport and the Charleston Air Force Base bring $4.5 billion a year into S.C.’s economy and support nearly 35,000 jobs, according to a 2022 study by research economist Joey Von Nessen of the University of South Carolina.

Charleston chef, restaurateur return from rowing the Atlantic. Charlie Layton and Ben Towill of Charleston returned home in late January after rowing 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

IOP Breach Inlet suffers massive erosion. Breach Inlet at Isle of Palms has suffered severe beach erosion in the past 24 hours. Locals and Isle of Palms police chief say erosion is normal, but not to the scale witnessed Monday.

OSHA cites N. Charleston shipyard over $8K for worker’s death. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Detyens Shipyard thousands of dollars after a worker died on the job last summer.