This testimony continues today in a
double murder trial of Alec Murdoch,
and most of that testimony
today has centered around
Murdoch's alleged financial crimes. We have
live team coverage on what
happened in the courtroom,
starting with News 19.
Callum Hagwood kaylin.
Jr. Darcy Good evening court.
Just wrapping up a short time ago,
as you mentioned much of it
surrounding that witness testimony
on those alleged financial crimes
witnesses describing him as a powerful
attorney and trusted friend as they
described how they were allegedly
tied into his financial scheme.
It was another day of financial
testimony as witnesses took the stand
sharing new details on Alec Murdoch's
alleged financial state in the time
surrounding the killings of his wife,
Maggie and some Paul.
Attorney Chris Wilson says
Alec was his best friend,
while at separate law firms the two would
occasionally work on cases together.
One case, he says,
earned a multi $1,000,000 settlement,
but when it came time to pay
Murdoch gas for his money directly
rather than sending it to his firm,
told me he had cleared it with
his firm and with his partners.
I didn't have any reason to doubt that.
That sense of assurance dwindled
in the time that followed. I
had been told that Ella had been
stealing from his firm and from clients,
and that he had a drug problem
and was going into rehab.
Murdoch's defense argues those allegations
are irrelevant to the killings,
instead focusing their questioning
on his character and showing this
video of Alec receiving a birthday
cake from Paul before his death.
Wilson met Murdoch shortly after
their bodies were discovered.
And the reason? He was distraught over the
death of Maggie and Paul, right? Yeah. Yes.
Tony Satterfield also took the stand.
He says Murdoch stole a large settlement
from him after his mom died following
a fall at the Murdoch property.
When the defendant came to you.
Around the time of your mom's funeral
and said he was going to help you
and file a claim on your behalf.
Why did you agree to that?
OK, let's try sitting.
Well, this financial testimony lasted
for hours and in the courtroom you
could actually see jurors yawning
some putting their heads down,
just really seeming to be
tired as this continued.
We are only in week three of this
trial with no signs of slowing
down reporting in Collin County.
I'm Caitlin hagwood.
Kaylin, thanks.
And as you just heard in her report,
there testimony of Murdoch's alleged
financial crimes continuing with
Tony Satterfield on the stand,
he is one of the sons of Gloria
Satterfield who worked as a housekeeper
for the Murdochs for some 2 decades.
Satterfield said Murdock got more
than $4 million in an insurance
settlement for his mother's death,
but that he and his family never
saw one sin of that money.
The current CEO of Palmetto State Bank
testified today about loans that were
given to Murdoch over several years.
Our Rachel Rip has our continuing
team coverage with that part
of the testimony, Rachel.
Yes, Darcy Jr.
Malinowski became CEO of Palmetto
State Bank in August of last year.
Now it was August of 2021 when he learned
Alex's financial status with the bank,
discovering that he was $4.2 million in debt.
Malinowski testified that in a Palmetto
State Bank board meeting in August of 2021,
they discussed Alec in his intention to sell,
quote, the farm.
Malinowski testified that the loan
did not appear to have been approved
by the executive committee,
but Russell Lafitte,
the CEO of the bank at the time,
said it was approved by
three out of five members.
Malanowski testified he
doesn't remember approving it.
Lafitte was convicted last year
of bank fraud that involved
allegations he committed the crimes.
Alongside Murdoch.
When you had a discussion
at the board meeting in August.
2021. Were there any representations
made to you about the purposes for
some new loan to Alec Murdoch?
Yes, there were. And what were you
told the purposes were? Repairs
to beach house.
Repairs to the beach house?
Yes, Sir. And who told you that?
Russell defeat OK and did he tell you
at any time that it was $350,000 to
Chris Wilson to put some fees back?
They tell you that at any time
it was $400,000 to cover a -,
347,000 dollar overdraft that the bank had
been paying for him since June of 2021.
In cross examination, Malinowski told
defense lawyers that Alec had a history
of being a good customer of the bank.
Malanowski also said his bank was not
scrutinizing loans of Alex per se.
Now, before leaving the witness stand today,
Malinowski testified that to his knowledge,
in June 2021, if Alec Murdoch wanted any
extra money from the Palmetto State Bank,
he could go to former CEO.
Couple of feet and get it reporting in
front of the Colleton County Courthouse.
Rachel, Rip News 19 WLTX.
Rachel, thank you. Of course,
we're gonna continue to have full coverage
on this trial on air as well as online.
You can download the WLTX Plus app,
go to our YouTube page or go to wltx.com
to follow the trial minute by minute
and see the latest developments.