Judge allows DNA testing in Murdaugh retrial

South Carolina Judge Debra McCaslin authorized Alex Murdaugh’s defense to test remaining DNA samples from his wife Maggie’s fingernails and phone, while rejecting a broad request for ballistics records from other shootings, at an October 16 pretrial hearing. Prosecutors had argued that testing could consume the limited material and prevent another examination. McCaslin permitted the defense to proceed, citing its opportunity to present a full defense. Murdaugh’s lawyers estimate the analysis could take about 90 days. No results have been reported, and the judge said the defense need not provide them to prosecutors unless it plans to use them at trial. The defense had sought records and cartridge cases from other shootings involving .300 Blackout ammunition, including incidents in eight counties, for comparison with evidence in the Murdaugh case. McCaslin denied the broad request, finding the proposed wider review speculative and burdensome. She said questions about ammunition and comparisons could be addressed through evidence and cross-examination at trial. The judge did order prosecutors to provide raw crime-scene ballistics data and 3D scan data. She also ruled that the...