Alex Murdaugh trial - live: Son Paul’s cellphone data narrows down time of murders to seconds - The Independent

Murdaugh’s calls to woman connected nighttime of murders were mysteriously ‘deleted’ from his iPhone

Calls Alex Murdaugh made to his woman connected the nighttime helium allegedly murdered her and their lad were mysteriously aboriginal “deleted” from his cellphone, according to melodramatic courtroom testimony.

SLED Lt. Britt Dove, who works successful the machine crimes centre astatine the authorities agency, testified successful Colleton County Courthouse successful Walterboro, South Carolina, connected Wednesday that helium had processed the 3 cellphones belonging to Mr Murdaugh, his woman Maggie and lad Paul successful the aftermath of the brutal murders.

Lt Dove told the tribunal that a trove of telephone calls Mr Murdaugh made to his wife’s cellphone aft helium allegedly changeable her and Paul dormant were missing from the suspect’s telephone log.

Rachel Sharp reports connected this morning’s testimony.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 18:54

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 18:35

There is simply a further question from the defence squad astir the “springboard” diagnostic connected the location surface of iPhones that allows for speedy motorboat of the camera function.

It is projected that Maggie whitethorn person been trying to activate the camera to instrumentality photograph of her slayer and that whitethorn besides relationship for the predisposition changes.

Lt Dove cannot attest to that.

Court breaks for luncheon until 2.35pm.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 18:24

The prosecution besides revisits however Maggie’s telephone camera turned connected for astir 1 second.

Lt Dove says erstwhile it’s activated by a person, it would usually enactment connected for astatine slightest respective seconds. In this context, and taking into relationship the different events logged by the telephone specified arsenic predisposition changes, his sentiment is that the camera was astir apt trying to absorption connected a look to unlock the telephone with facial recognition.

No further questions from the prosecution.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 18:21

Returning to Alex’s measurement count, helium took 195 steps betwixt 9.22pm and 9.32pm and different 60 steps betwixt 9.35pm and 9.45pm.

The prosecution again reiterates that the measurement number is not wholly close but besides records distances successful metres — this is besides an approximation. What Lt Dove tin concede is that 60 steps is apt going to beryllium a shorter region than 195 steps.

Maggie’s texts are besides revisited, underlining that Alex asked her to travel to the location that day.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 18:16

Prosecution argues that determination would person been nary predisposition alteration of Maggie’s telephone if the surface was off.

The contention present is that the telephone was thrown aft the 9.06pm telephone from Alex Murdaugh.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 18:07

Defence has nary further questions and prosecution begins redirect.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 17:59

While determination was lone a small determination accusation extracted from Maggie’s phone, the defence besides notes that immoderate of the information connected it whitethorn person been automatically deleted oregon overwritten.

The telephone information was not extracted until 8 days aft the murders and Lt Dove concedes that immoderate information whitethorn person been mislaid successful that time.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 17:57

Alex Murdaugh’s car starts astatine 9.06.48pm aft a play successful which helium was walking astir according to his phone.

No transportation to the Bluetooth strategy successful the car was recorded connected his phone.

Maggie’s telephone was recovered astir 15 feet from a state roadworthy astir a mile and a fractional from the Moselle Road property.

An predisposition alteration would lone hap if it were thrown a definite way. Lt Dove cannot accidental if the last predisposition alteration of Maggie’s telephone was it being thrown from a vehicle.

The last alteration successful predisposition came arsenic Alex called Maggie’s telephone astatine 9.06pm. Defence argues that seeing the telephone coming successful whitethorn person instigated the idiosyncratic with the telephone to propulsion it.

Lt Dove cannot attest astir what mightiness origin idiosyncratic to propulsion the phone.

Defence is arguing that Alex was walking, starting his car, and calling his woman erstwhile the telephone was thrown retired of a moving vehicle.

Lt Dove says the phones bash not look to beryllium unneurotic arsenic they weren’t signaling steps together, lone Alex’s was.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 17:44

Defence wants to absorption connected the timeframe from 8.50pm to 9.08pm — the clip erstwhile it is thought Paul and Maggie were killed and the clip that Alex sent the connection to Maggie saying helium was going to sojourn his mother.

Looking astatine the timeline for Maggie’s phone, the show goes disconnected astatine 8.49:28pm and the telephone goes to scenery mode. The telephone is locked 2 seconds later.

At 8.53pm the show comes connected but the telephone remains locked. 12 seconds aboriginal the telephone goes to representation mode.

At 8.53pm the telephone records 59 steps and ends astatine 8.55pm aft astir 2 and fractional minutes. The region covered is astir 31 metres.

The show goes disconnected astatine 8.53.28pm and comes backmost connected 4 seconds later.

Defence asks erstwhile Siri was past activated — it was astatine 8.53.20pm — during the play successful which steps were recorded.

At 8.54.32pm the surface comes connected and the camera is activated 2 seconds aboriginal portion the telephone remains locked. The camera goes disconnected 1 2nd later.

At 8.54.40pm the predisposition mode changes to scenery mode.

At 8.55.04pm the show goes disconnected and the predisposition mode switches to portrait.

The surface past goes connected and disconnected passim the play during which Alex was calling and texting Maggie.

Oliver O'Connell1 February 2023 17:29