Accused murderer Murdaugh testifies in own defense, 'I did not shoot my wife or son'

Accused murder Alex Murdaugh testified Thursday in his own defense, telling a South Carolina jury he did not kill his wife and son but repeatedly acknowledged lying to authorities on his whereabouts the night of the killings.

Murdaugh's wife, Margaret Murdaugh, and his 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh, were found dead in June 2021 near kennels on the family property.

The defendant and disbarred attorney said in the courtroom for his murder trial he lied to police about being at the kennels before their deaths because his opioid addict led to "paranoid thinking" and made him lie to police about his whereabouts. 

Murdaugh's voice can be heard on a video recorded by Paul Murdaugh minutes before he and his mother were murdered, prosecutors contend.

"I did not shoot my wife or son any time, ever," Murdaugh told his defense attorney while on the stand, The Associated Press reported.