Legal Briefs 37. The Murdaugh Trial with Bob Motta

We discuss the Murdaugh Trial with Bob Motta of The Defense Diaries. With the prosecution wrapping up, where do things stand? Should Alec Murdaugh testify? And has the prosecution proved its case?

[@lisarozzz]

The court is so casual, nobody is sequestered, all the lawyers walking around?

[@cherilee392]

The snap chat and time line prove it.

[@dmon2877]

OMG! This was my comment on another recap posted earlier today: “Ok people. First, 40-50k a week for pills?! Not possible. He would be dead. Second, Everybody needs to take a huge step back and think about what we’re hearing and seeing here. Something is really really off. There’s something way bigger than the Murdaughs going on here. Yes, he’s right in the middle of it, and guilty af , but there is something else.. and it’s more than just about the money. Something big enough to make all these powerful people rally around, something big enough to make Alec Murdaugh sacrifice his family, and then himself.” So glad to hear someone else say this!! Makes me feel not so crazy.

[@thefeays]

Missed the live but wanted to comment on this grrrreat discussion. I would absolutely vote to convict. I remember learning about family annihilators that they are malignant narcissists who actually believe their family is better off dead than living with diminishment and shame. Ugh. You called it, Alice. Nothing he did was for anyone but himself. I'm sure the drugs contributed to his callousness but I bet you dollars to donuts he was always a narcissist.

[@1whocs486]

Excellent as always 💓

[@nbgilbert]

Thank you for humanizing defense attorneys… Hard to do unless you need one!

[@lilybee_]

I've heard that Alex didn't really have a 10M insurance policy at all. Do you know if that's true?

[@grimtt]

Harpo said (while they were arguing about the gun for hire plot sans jury) $12million. Maybe it falls into the category of a fish tale 🎣

[@inquiringmind2852]

Came to this too late to catch the live but loved it❣️

[@janeblackbird2376]

Hi. Love your podcast!

[@cjfengshui1]

Thanks guys. I’ve been digging to find the correct enunciation of his name. Even though his middle name is Alexander, they pronounce it Alec. Murdaugh is pronounced Mur dock. Great show!

[@curt5253]

am didnt know there was a snap video at the kennels

[@charleslusignan6309]

Everyone takes a plea.

[@kristiesimonds326]

I can’t wait

[@kalona111]

Could anyone detox in 30 days if they’ve been doing drugs for 15-20 days, everyday?

[@clocloww1622]

Another thing I never understood about USA trials, when you have such sensational, media trials that can be smirky regarding the sentence, why they don’t choose 12 jurors from other states, who don’t have any bloody idea who the defendants are?

[@MottaMottaLLC]

Hi!

[@jelliott4660]

The State should have called Tinsley closer to the end of their case. His testimony was important but it seems like 2 years ago now.

[@sannyo6]

But the 10M to 12M life insurance policy does NOT exist. AM didn’t have a 10M policy. MT even said it on stand.

[@elaineleonard9526]

Brett is soooo handsome. Good coverage of this case.

[@shannon2740]

Brett, I think it’s the opposite of what you’re thinking when people say I’m 100% he’s guilty but I couldn’t convict. I don’t think that’s because they don’t buy the motive. I think it’s because they do buy the motive and they feel in their gut 100% sure that he did it but they don’t feel there’s enough hard evidence to convict.

[@RivaDog1100]

Hi guys this was so cool and entertaining. Love your podcast and legal briefs.. a fan from Germany here..

[@melaniepeeler5410]

When the Investegator told him that there was a Snap Chat video taken at the kennels and his voice was identified as being there. He didn't say a word for a long time. He was stunned.

[@jaimehutchison175]

Isn’t forensic evidence circumstantial too?

[@Lisa-sf4fy]

Guys, have we learned nothing from Criminal Minds? There's always a trigger when someone crosses the line. The guy was under a huge amount of stress - everything crumbling, in withdrawal, dad dying, the boat accident. What if he told Maggie and Paul he lost his job and they blew up at him? He told his friend he just got so mad. He could kill them in angry impulse and then have remorse. That's completely possible.

[@patriciagazey4693]

I agree with Alice

[@kristiesimonds326]

Wow

[@Coming4Trump]

I don’t think the fact that he got fired the same day has been explored enough. I think Alice has a good point. Today was the day he was gonna be exposed in front of his wife and his children for the person he really is and that’s too much for him. Shame is a powerful motivator and he couldn’t deal with that. I must also agree with Brett. I don’t presume to know what goes on in an Addicts mind. I certainly don’t expect it to be logical. The fact that nobody’s talking about how 50G’s a wk would kill an elephant is another issue. I don’t give a shit about motives. All I care about is the facts The other thing is, I can’t believe when somebody’s life is on the line that you can’t take notes that shocking to me.

[@TDOGO]

Note taking: Ive seen this before in other cases. And was on the same thought process. Why not? I think it has to do with, it keeps you malleable if you record notes from the beginning you may want to make your future notes fit your first or vice versa. Looks like they knew the investigation was bad so they relied on the digital footprints. It was a lot of hard data that needed to come in and that was overwhelming. But I figured it would all be pieced together with timeline/closing arguments.

[@lisarozzz]

Why did he get his insurance card the morning before the roadside shooting?

[@curt5253]

well Chris Watts destroyed his family and choked out his little girls and wife for the P word.

[@nbgilbert]

Murdaugh fan? I’d say Murdaugh fear. After the trial, their names will be released, if people don’t already know. They may be afraid to convict because there will be repercussions from many factions.

[@dianasimplifies]

Yep I thought about that, it should have been moved.

[@melaniepeeler5410]

Do you really think AM was that slick to pull this off???

[@electricaf365]

Wayment…why isn’t this on your podcast?

[@musingsofasouthernbelle]

I know ya'll are both super busy, BUT I REALLY wish ya'll were covering this trial!!! I apparently have no life and have been deep diving this trial for forever (at this point). LOVE to hear what ya'll have to say about the trial. I personally believe he did it, but I believe drugs play a MUCH bigger role in all of this than has been mentioned. I mean, how else do you "lose" 10 million dollars!!! Also, why in the world does the trial seem so disorganized? The Prosecution has all the right pieces, but I'm getting lost in the Financials and the murder-suicide plot and witnesses coming in out of order. Very confusing... BUT it ain't over yet ;)

[@dyanalynn6698]

29:18 YES Alice… thank you for putting it into words. There is always “one of those” in these rich, powerful, legacy type families and the good guy happy go lucky sympathetic, attentive father masks that AM had been wearing were falling off for good… him and his immediate family were about to have nothing…so hmm sympathy as opposed to humiliation… I can see that for sure… Lots of reasonable doubt though

[@clocloww1622]

I watched DEA agents discussing this point, and they said that if this crime happened in Columbia, Mexico, any south or Central America cartel countries, so yes it is very likely that a cartel killed some of his family for revenge or intimidation. But in the USA this sumply doesn’t happen. They were killed by someone in the family

[@Cecil-hotel]

Bob Motta looks like Keanu Keaves😍

[@asemi4]

What's the Garcia case Bob referenced?

[@jenniferwray3329]

It's the 2nd season of Defense Diaries(his podcast.) Anthony Garcia.

[@Zephaerie1]

The thing is that suicide is selfish. Look at forensic psychology on serial killers, e.g. who mill themselves when they’re found out. It is so selfish to try to kill yourself because of money. In reality, things spiral out of control and suicide is a method of control or a grab for power. It’s not a sacrificing yourself for your family. It’s being a coward incapable of facing reality and taking responsibility for what he did

[@Horseymama1]

New sub, loving your Channel. It's refreshing seeing a lawtube creator from the prosecution side. For me, a motive isn't particularly important, great when there is a clear one but working out how or why someone has justified killing their loved ones is impossible. You're trying to find rational in the irrational mind. Imo, Alex killed Maggie and Paul for whatever reason he thought would benefit him in some way. (Although I think it's just as simple as him being angry at Paul for putting him in that position and probably just killed Maggie to save her the embarrassment of what was coming out.. but idk, only Alex knows.

[@curt5253]

omg. she didn't say she changed her mind on Alec. she changed her mind on if maggie suffered

[@melaniepeeler5410]

Could he have been soooo stressed that he over did the meds that day to kill the pain and he was HIGHERRRR than a kite.

[@lisarozzz]

Remember Paul was called little “Detective “

[@musingsofasouthernbelle]

He didn't use his phone after 8:46 and it died somewhere around 10:30. Why hasn't a pathologist given a time of death?

[@MistyMeanorB]

I’m with Alice 💯‼Narcissist, pathological lawyer, I mean liar… Great show, thanks ❣❣❣

[@yvongiroux6618]

that money is for put aside in order to pay his lawers not for drug

[@musingsofasouthernbelle]

I believe he is really crying, the question is is he crying for himself or for his Wife and Son and Family?!

[@hanwagu9967]

he wouldn't do it for paw paw because paw paw facing criminal charges for boat case, along with civil case, and history of getting bailed out by the Murdough name. He wouldn't do it for mags, because the highest value property, moselle, was solely in mags' name. Buster was the only legacy, that's why they were scheming to pay off and pay for buster to get back into law school. $50k/week opioid is 100% nonsensical. He said he got eye surgery when he was doing $50k/week opioids. No doctor would have performed surgery on him if he was that hopped up on opioids, especially since oxy constricts pupils. The defense never contested the time of death.

[@leightodd9431]

He was probably high when he did that. He's crying now because he has to see the pictures of what he did without the filter of substances.

[@sashab8037]

He said Paul’s phone popped out when he turned him . He could have picked it up and thought about using it to call 911 but it wasn’t on . Just a theory to explain

[@musingsofasouthernbelle]

Mr. Motta is on to something with the gambling if you listen to his jailhouse calls. He would be dead (or at least look like the walking dead), to spend that kind of money on Opioids (Btw... he is SOOOO snorting those pills, that's why he sniffs so much), BUT... that wouldn't mean his money wasn't funding a drug ring. There's WAY more to this story and many, many, many more people involved than I believe we will EVER know about. (Not in the murders, in his double life... we'll never know all of that). Quite frankly, I think he's just a Narcissistic Sociopath that's evil and he didn't need many motives.

[@Booooberrie]

If he killed his wife and son he's the best actor I've ever see in my life. There is no way to fake how devestated he was when he found them. Yes he's a liar and a criminal and a drug addict but this was definitely a revenge killing by 2 people to get back at him for Mallory. You won't convince me and I doubt they will convince a jury that he killed two people he loved and acted that crushed because he wanted an excuse to get people to not pay attention to money issues? He will be exonerated for this.

[@patriciagazey4693]

Yes Bob agree he was trying to delete video Phone died He didnt know pasaword

[@judyotero7678]

His crying seems fake. I'm surprised many of you think it's real. He stops on a dime, especially the night of the murder.

[@christineakey6295]

Right!! How can you be so composed right after seeing your family murdered in such a brutal manner?

[@dianasimplifies]

Oh my gosh came over here to say that. Nothing about his crying seems real to me!! Far from it. Wowsa. Been watching TIR go thru the interviews and when he’s in the car and no one is paying attention to him he shuts the crying off real quick.

[@juliemclaughlin5782]

I agree! He never has any snot! Sorry to be gross, but when I cry, I always have to blow my nose...

[@Doorsofperception420]

Lost respect for you Bob after seeing you on lana oriani channel. Dude how don't you know about her?😊

[@clocloww1622]

Frankly AM and his family are guilty of so many crimes that cover the whole criminal spectrum, and even if AM he’s not guilty of these 2 murderers he can be in life in prison for the rest of the crimes he committed. Disgusting family all of them. And I don’t want even figure all the crimes in the closet that aren’t revealed yet

[@AcquiredTaste3.14]

This Panama Papers level whatever.

[@clocloww1622]

For sure he didn’t use 50/60K per week on himself!! I’m thinking about he was also smuggling those pills for making even more money

[@sarahc6057]

Why the heck is no one caring that she just got her nails done that day and some unknown male DNA likely cb Rowes DNA was under her nails he was off work that day to take his dad to the docter how did that happen. No one is pointing it out as a big deal!

[@Cecil-hotel]

The manicurist could be a male. Or the cashier. Could be picked up anywhere

[@MissPirogi]

CB was out of state that day. He had a good alibi.

[@christian_noel]

MAGGIE WAS CRAWLING N HIDING UNDER ATV WHEN SHOT

[@crystalakabeavergamingsubs9549]

There was definitely a favorite. 2 sons - 1 gets 10 million plan blundered and 1 gets dead by a bad plan.

[@cullenfamily4312]

yes Alice bribery$$$$

[@kalona111]

He’s a narcissist, he’ll want to be on the stand

[@crystalakabeavergamingsubs9549]

I am curious how the jury will vote. If I was a juror I would vote guilty with reasoning it’s likely he committed the murder along with the so many bad things. The two things that make me hesitate is 1- he couldn’t shoot the dog and 2- he was with his family so much. In the beginning I was sure he was innocent and this was connected to the boat crashed. Oddly, the defense changed my mind not the state.

[@grimtt]

Is Alice still in the closet? 😅

[@charleslusignan6309]

No clue what you guys are talking about. We’re not lawyers!