Burned Alive Murder Trial: Opening Statements | SC v. Craig Lewis

[@CourtTV]

*TRIAL NOTES:* 00:20 STATE OPENING STATEMENT - Asst. Solicitor Hunter Swanson 07:11 DEFENSE OPENING STATEMENT - Margie Bright Matthews #CourtTV What do YOU think? SC v. #CraigLewis #BurnedAliveMurderTrial MORE HERE: www.courttv.com/news/sc-v-craig-lewis-burned-alive-murder-trial/?

[@ZappBrannigansMom]

I hadn’t heard of this case and I just read up on it. This excuse of a man is a waste of space in our society. Parents raise your children better and teach them to move on peacefully if things don’t work out.

[@CourtTV]

#CourtTV What do YOU think? SC v. #CraigLewis #BurnedAliveMurderTrial MORE HERE: www.courttv.com/news/sc-v-craig-lewis-burned-alive-murder-trial/?

[@judydavis2208]

I can’t even begin to imagine the horrific situation that this poor woman went through and survived in pain for 10 months!!! 😢😢😢

[@thasarg4288]

If she really said "I tried to start stove with lighter fluid" Cmon!!!! Case dismissed!!! WTF is going on here???? She also told doctor same story!!!!!! Huh????

[@korey1112]

I already can't stand this guy

[@louisehicks3285]

LMAO agree immediately

[@funkfunkable]

Light the stove with lighter fluid ? I guarantee she was in complete shock and she meant " he used the lighter fluid" no way anyone would do that! 😡

[@daffodiljillX]

​@@funkfunkablemy mum's cousin did this few months ago. Killed himself by mistake.

[@Michael_J_M14]

Not guilty. He was a victim of the police. The jury saw it and made it right.

[@ryandeininger822]

@@funkfunkable Have you ever used lighter fluid? (I use it from time to time in woodstoves) If you start a fire but the flame goes out, it's not uncommon for people to try to douse it with lighter fluid to get the flame back up. But if there isn't any flame left, there's nothing to ignite the fumes. Naturally, people grab a match or a lighter, but this is where it's dangerous - because RELIGHTING a fire that now has lighter fluid on it, is much more combustible. I've definitely singed my hair and eyebrows multiple times.

[@williammaurice7206]

I've never once lit a wood stove with lighter fluid. My mom is over 60, she has a wood stove, never uses lighter fluid, never burnt herself.

[@nicenessispriceless2681]

Exactly! I agree. No one would ever use lighter fluid.

[@daffodiljillX]

​@@nicenessispriceless2681 my Mums cousin did this exact thing and killed himself by mistake few months ago.

[@darlenecampbell8818]

Single for 20 years and safe❤❤

[@nickyb7266]

Much safer and that’s why I’m single and happy! ❤

[@jakebe4915]

Hallelujah...

[@darkheartsartccollective]

Single for 7!

[@julie-nw6ql]

Same❤

[@AlexAndra-iy5zu]

I was married for 25 yrs and never once did I ever believe my ex husband would kill me. What I did know was he couldn’t protect me.

[@TofinoRider]

I’m glad Craig is writing this all down. I can tell already that he’s got this.

[@debbiegrigg614]

What's up with people wanting to burn people 😢

[@shardans1796]

I know right, first Melody Farris now this 😮

[@giovanna722]

It's absolutely horrible. Used to be sonething that happened in other cultures.

[@Ellewatch-y3j]

@@shardans1796 At least Gary wasn’t alive when burned, both cases are horrible but burning a person while alive d especially heinous.

[@7519JO]

@debbiegrigg614; Well, Farris did it to cover evidence. As most scary murderers do. This guy, if he did this, is one of the scariest people to ever walk this earth. There is nothing worse, or more painful, than burns. Inflicting that on someone as a mode of torture, and actually killing them, is the meaning of evil. It’s like the Quentin Tellis case. He raped and killed a girl by setting her on fire,& he got away with it (but is in jail for some other crimes) bc her brain was so cooked that she uttered a name that was nonsensical,& didn’t point the finger at Tellis.

[@Iwantakidney]

There is no prof of that and they said they didn’t know if he was alive. They did say the gun shot didn’t kill him.

[@Tinks82]

I think it's unfair to prohibit people from participating in the chat, unless they pay your membership fees. Not everyone can afford to join & CourtTV is the only channel streaming this trial.

[@lucyluzhuerta]

I agree with you smh. Law and Crime does the same thing. They shouldn't be allowed to do that. I found another channel called Trial Tv that is streaming it live. I hope you find this info helpful and you can watch it on their channel.

[@Tinks82]

@lucyluzhuerta I didn't know that thank you for sharing that with me! 😊 You would think that if they're charging people a fee for membership, that you wouldn't have to deal with immature people insulting & ridiculing the appearances of the witnesses & attorneys.

[@esmurphy9405]

I completely agree

[@Tinks82]

@@lucyluzhuerta I joined that channel & sent you a Big Thank You in the chat! Everyone there was welcoming & I let them know that you sent me so thanks again! 😀

[@Tinks82]

@@esmurphy9405 I'm not sure if you seen the message above but I joined TialTV & chat is very welcoming & friendly!

[@JulieBirTV]

Too many murder cases. RIP 🪦

[@beagrinton5934]

Did anyone notice the defendants smirk of disdain when the prosecutor said the victim’s name?

[@ladyterrestrial1679]

Yes! 😡 It’s frustrating as hell but at least we all get to see him as he truly is and that’s a blessing!

[@daffodiljillX]

Wasn't it the daughters name?

[@ryandeininger822]

@@daffodiljillX yes.

[@PaulineScotland1]

Margie the so called senator for defence is seriously unlikeable!! What that poor woman went through is unbearable to even think about it 💔

[@RoadGoose69]

There is little wonder that confidence in the police is at an all time low.....their incompetence is eye watering!!

[@christinegarcia3586]

Reason you call 911 is to get medical care immediately. There is a big delay when u drive someone to emergency room.

[@maryedwards8114]

Depends on call volume and location. It's not uncommon for people who live remotely to drive toward town to MEET an ambulance. And it's not uncommon for people in big cities to drive themselves directly bc the wait times for an ambulance is awful.

[@rogcat7181]

​@@maryedwards8114 absolutely agree.

[@michellebarrassjones9653]

I beg to differ in U.K. my partner had to take me to a & e as ambulance was an hr when I was seriously ill & had to have emergency surgery 😢

[@maryedwards8114]

@michellebarrassjones9653 it's the same in the states, especially if you live in a city or in a cornfield. EMTs get overloaded with bull$#!t calls on the daily.

[@AlexAndra-iy5zu]

Not true. He could get the wife to hospital in the same time it would take emergency services to arrive. He saved half the time, imo

[@erpthompsonqueen9130]

Thank you.Watching from Alaska. 🤔 ⚖️

[@christinegarcia3586]

He looks like an older Elon Musk!

[@divinemischief4655]

Yes, that's what I thought

[@karenwilliams3882]

Come on, you dial 911, you don't put clean clothes on a loved one who just burned up. He didn't take her right there, he put clean clothes on her. THEN took her.

[@freeburlington1]

And changed his own clothes, too!

[@loveforeignaccents]

I can't even imagine how much more intense that pain would have been, trying to take off and put clothes on someone who has second- and third-degree burns. That's why they CUT them off in the emergency room.

[@AlexAndra-iy5zu]

I have not heard of this case but just watched the Not Guilty verdict video Here I am to see what happened and why a juror came to a Not Guilty verdict

[@nicenessispriceless2681]

Good luck pal. No one catches themselves on fire accidentally through a wood burning stove! Especially 3rd degree burns. Laughable defense.

[@Michael_J_M14]

The jury saw through all the cops lies. Not guilty!

[@sjohnschafer]

I can’t believe he got away with this heinous crime

[@nicenessispriceless2681]

I’m shocked but honestly not enough evidence to convict him.

[@christinegarcia3586]

HIS ATTORNEY is already annoying, treating jury like they don't know their duty.

[@harlieschmidt5945]

And the way she referred to Terry as “Leanne’s mom” multiple times instead of using her own name.

[@Ania-cd2sh]

She must have done something right, he was found not guilty. Sad

[@binghamtonblows]

The prosecutor literally did the same exact thing and you don't seem to have a problem with that

[@goldengilmaky6788]

The burn pile case and then this one

[@BaddieRNurse]

I was thinking that

[@langlang9326]

I thought she lived long enough to tell them that the husband did it?

[@7519JO]

@langlang9326; She DID! But apparently that doesn’t even matter anymore. The defendant lied the whole time and he got a defense attorney to say that she was crazy and didn’t know what she was talking about:-/

[@loveforeignaccents]

@@7519JO The prosecutor should have mentioned exactly what Terry had stated about the "situation" in her opening statement. Hopefully it comes out through evidence from the stand.

[@7519JO]

@@loveforeignaccents Thank you. I don’t see my comment, again, after replying in the notifications window.:-/ You would think the prosecutor would have that statement on repeat! But I did miss opening statements and saw everything right after. I will watch the footage of the opening statements. If this guy did this, he is one of the scariest people that could walk this earth. And the smug look on his face, makes him look very punchable .

[@TheOtherBoleynGirl336]

The defendant looks like Elon Musk! 😂😂😂

[@pietg.6249]

😁👍

[@susiew2521]

The meddling muskrat hisveryself

[@JoyceSmith-uz6ou]

True.

[@susiew2521]

@@TheOtherBoleynGirl336 Meddling muskrat

[@alison9642]

A heavy set Elon Musk

[@cherie623]

OMG! The interruptions! Hard to watch!! Talking over one another! 🤨

[@Irish_Goodbye_Guy]

Defense attorney sounds very mediocre so far.

[@AlexAndra-iy5zu]

Is Lewis’ attorney court appointed? She did a great job 👏🏽

[@7519JO]

Wow. I’m pretty sure that this guy’s wrap sheet is going to continue to get longer, after the jury just found him not guilty. He sounds like a very scary individual, and he has other violent criminal history aside from this horrible case. Yikes ladys in South Carolina, watch out for this guy!

[@strouty]

The clerk sitting in front of the witness has a verrry verrry baaaad daaaaay……….😒

[@BaddieRNurse]

Why does it always look like he’s dozing off? Besides that his defense attorney is really good she made valid points idk if I’d be able to convict him. The daughter definitely cares more about money than her mom smh

[@jodyjingles7968]

6.03 mins in and it's a guilty verdict from me

[@jakebe4915]

Forget listening to the Defense. Guilty!

[@RyanJansen-mf7wu]

The defense had some answers and summed up the opening well.... That said, between the unfortunate victim arriving at the hospital alive/not making mention of any suspicion (it seems), and her suffering from dementia, bi-polar depression and had strokes (in somthing of the multiples I believe I heard), then there is definitely convenience to consider some faultiness or inadequacies on Terry's part, in starting a wood stove fire.

[@BelindaPeralez]

Guilty his blinking

[@jomac8101]

Good grief.

[@gabba5423]

What is wrong with these people.Omg why not divorce.

[@debbiefreeman9481]

Evidently they’re incredibly selfish and probably narcissistic, and think they own and control people.

[@thasarg4288]

OMG!! He should plea!!!

[@loveforeignaccents]

Why would he? He's trying to get off the hook. He's been a free man for nearly the last six years, since this occurred, already.

[@karenwilliams3882]

I swear I just saw him roll his eyes 😮

[@7519JO]

@karenwilliams3882: Not only is he rolling his eyes and looking at everyone with disdain, but he almost looks high to me. This guys’ face makes him very unlikable.

[@BrickbyBrick-]

Senator's victim blaming is unbearable🤢.

[@Gabriella123.59]

Even if she “accidentally” burned herself which isn’t true, the husband would have been there to put the fire out but he didn’t it took that many burns to make a move ???

[@Zosoa]

Is the defense lawyer Murdaugh, kin to the other Murdaugh’s in Colleton County?

[@tas22222]

6 yrs ? that has to change. regardless if innocent or guilty w hy has it taken SIX years. Ridiculous

[@RebaThompson-xl2zh]

So Terry was 22 years older than the defendant

[@7519JO]

@RebaThompson-xl2zh; Wait, what?! Wasn’t the victim Terry, 60 yo?! That would make him 38 ? NO WAY was he 38 in that mugshot . He looks mid 50’s now, and late 40’s early 50’s in the mugshot.

[@RebaThompson-xl2zh]

@7519JO no that's him after he first met her he was 27 in 2006 when they got married he was 27 and she was 49

[@7519JO]

@@RebaThompson-xl2zh : Wow he looks pretty rough.

[@7519JO]

Did this defense attorney really ask the medical examiner if the victim had breasts?! She’s aware that these forms are general templates that are used for every autopsy, and he didn’t hand draw the form. Is this attempting to show reasonable doubt…?!🤪 She’s terrible.

[@7519JO]

Sorry! I’m watching the live trial now, not this video here.

[@ryandeininger822]

She had a double mastectomy from breast cancer. It's actually relevant.

[@7519JO]

@@ryandeininger822 I never said it was irrelevant. What’s your point ?

[@ryandeininger822]

@@7519JO Why are you surprised the attorney asked the ME whether or not the victim had breasts or not? It was extremely important (for the defense) to point out *as often as possible* that the victim had serious ailments other than her burn wounds, in order to make the argument that her death may not have been a direct result of the burns at all. This was one more opportunity to remind the jury of this fact.

[@gillmiller3702]

what a complete mess of a case. Justice for Terry

[@dj_1969]

The defendants attorney is good though . I like her .

[@BaddieRNurse]

Same! She’s making valid points the daughter is definitely no saint and money was more important

[@Tinks82]

I shouldn't have to pay a fee, to join a chat that is full of people who enjoy ridiculing & insulting the witnesses & attorneys appearances!!

[@binghamtonblows]

Gotta love everyone jumping on this guy with their armchair body language expertise just for the guy to be found not guilty

[@DeniseSmith-rp2qn]

The defense attorney is so annoying

[@piva1358]

Defese attorney ia terrible 😮😮😮

[@nickyb7266]

Was there a statement from the victim before she died? This is so tragic 😢

[@Bananabrainzzzz]

And saying she had mental illness and that she was 20 years older than him. What does THAT matter?

[@harlieschmidt5945]

God I hope so. That’s called a dying declaration and it is an exception to the hearsay rule, is NOT cross examinable, and is very powerful. That info comes from a Bruce Rivers reaction video where a young woman was also burned but lived long enough to tell police who killed her. Judy Malinowski testified at her own murder trial; she was deposed shortly before she died.

[@shirleyhodge3524]

I MADE THE MISTAKE OF MAKEING A COMMENT UNDER THE WRONG VIDEO !!!!!

[@annevallely]

Why arenthey calling him creg?? His name is Craig.

[@VeronicaPareigis]

Court tv sucked up in burn pile too with 40 pound bags of whatever. Court tv too judgmental need non bias

[@VeronicaPareigis]

Court tv sucks up to defense. How great she is because I senate. Give me a break. That poor women who died from fire

[@ryandeininger822]

They suck up to the VERDICT. Which is how it should be.

[@ragnaryahuwah]

Anotherone?

[@julie-nw6ql]

Were the missing clothes covered in lighter fluid...if so no wonder he removed them , especially it he tipped it over her and set her a light

[@GeraldineTurner-c8d]

I. Think she knew it was only money mama's boy she was the ticket he needed she wanted out he did it redrumm

[@shardans1796]

Dude looks like he could be Elon Musk's dad😮

[@shirleyhodge3524]

THE SON FRAMED HIS MOTHER VERY EASIELY. HE SHOT HIS DAD AT THE BURN PILE AND COLLECTED SOME BLOOD. HE WENT INTO HOME AND DRIPPIED SOME OF IT. HE ALSO CLEANED SOME OF IT TO LOOK LIKE SHE DID IT. HE PLACES A SPENT CARTRIGE BY A RUG. HE MAY OF EVEN PUT THE MURDER WEAPON BACK INTO THE CABINET. HE DROPS HINTS TO HIS FRIEND WHEN HIS MOTHER CALLED AND SAID I THINK MELODY IS UP TO THINGS. HE THEN TELLS HE BELIEVED SHE DID IT. SHE HAD HER FAULTS BUT SHE DID NOT DO THIS MURDER. SO SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND SO WHAT THEY ALL KNEW IT. HER SON WELL PLANNED THIS AND NOBODY HAD TO CARRY GARY OUT TO THE BURN PILE HE WAS ALREADY THERE. DEFENDERS SHOULD OF KEPT TALKING ABOUT HER BEING FRAMED AND THEY DID NOT USE THE WORDS. THATS WHY NOTHING ADDED UP IN THE HOUSE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A FRAME UP. NOW THE JURY IS THE BLAME FOR NOT WANTING TO SEE THROUGH THIS. HER SON WAS EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY, HE WAS STRONG, THE MOTHER EVEN TOLD HER BOYFRIEND OVER THE PHONE SHE THOUGHT SCOTT DONE THE PERPECT MURDER. MAYBE SHE DID POSION GARY MAYBE THE SON WAS DOING IT. BESIDES GARY HAD CANCER. THE SON DISPISED HIS DAD SO HE EASY KILLED DAD FRAMED MOM SO SHE WOULD GO TO PRISON BECAUSE HE DISPISED HER AS WELL. HE AND HIS SILBINGS GET THE MONEY. SCOTT DID NOT RESPECT OR LOVE MOM IS WHY HE ALWAYS CALLED HER MELODY FOR A LONG TIME. HE PROBLALEY HAD PLAN A, PLAN B, AND PLAN C IF NEEDED. IT PROBLEY WAS GARYS BLOOD BECAUSE SCOTT DRIPPED A LITTLE OF IT. I WISH I KNEW THE ATTORNEYS FOR MELODY NAMES AND ADDRESSES TO HELP SOLVE THIS CASE.

[@julie-nw6ql]

😂

[@7519JO]

@shirleyhodge3524; I dont know if you know Melody Farris, but the jury, and at least 75% of commenters, disagree with you. I can’t understand how anyone could have watched that trial in its entirety, and still think Melody is innocent. Not anyone with common sense, at least. There is a difference between the prosecution not being able to prove something, to someone being innocent of the crime. There was ZERO evidence that Scott did anything to hurt his father. There was a plethora of evidence that the ho bag wife not only shot and killed Gary, but had tried to poison him multiple times. That was Gary’s own words, claiming Melody had tried to poison him multiple times.

[@shirleyhodge3524]

@@7519JO Acually i have alot of common sense and Scott framed his mother. Thats why he cried because defender was getting to close to the trutth. Another thing he failed the polycraft test big time but defenders could not use it for court so what do you think about those apples? The problem was the jury did not have enough sense to realize this was a frame up! Scott murdered his dad set up mom. She had her faults however none of them got along well in that family. If you know so much expain the fail polygraft. They had nothing to prove she shot this man and dragged him out to a burn pile. That was almost a block or more away!

[@7519JO]

@@shirleyhodge3524 Lol, well the jury disagrees with you. And a bajillion other people disagree with you. You certainly know a lot of what people are thinking, but have never said. And you seem to know exactly why someone is crying and everything they have done in their life, just by looking at them. So you must be psychic. Scott was likely crying because his father will be getting justice, not because he framed his mom. Polygraph, (I’m not sure what a “polycraft “ is, and you actually had to type that in 😳)is not admissible in court for a reason. You can fail them for a plethora of reasons, and pass them if psychopathy, etc., is present. So your logic, is less than logical.

[@shirleyhodge3524]

@@7519JO I can't help it that you are so dummed down that you can't see the forest for the trees.