The high-profile trial of Alex Murdaugh, accused of killing his wife and son, entered its sixth week on Monday as the defense gets ready to call its final witnesses to the stand.

Murdaugh, 54, is facing charges of fatally shooting his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, on June 7, 2021, near a row of dog kennels on his Lowcountry hunting estate called Moselle in Islandton, South Carolina.

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The complex murder trial is being held at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, and has included dozens of witnesses and several key players who will help jurors determine whether Murdaugh is guilty or innocent in the murders of his loved ones.

As the defense team prepares to present its final witnesses, the prosecution has already presented a case that includes testimony from law enforcement officials, forensic experts, and witnesses who were present during or after the murders.

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Throughout the trial, emotions have been high, with family members of the victims, as well as Murdaugh, often seen wiping away tears. The trial has also attracted national attention due to the Murdaugh family’s prominence in the area.

The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, but the jury will ultimately decide whether Murdaugh is guilty or innocent of the charges against him.

Who is Judge Clifton Newman?

The judge presiding over the highly publicized double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh is Judge Clifton Newman. Born in Kingstree, South Carolina in 1951, Newman’s father was a reverend.

Newman attended Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio, where he received his Juris Degree and began practicing law. He then returned to South Carolina in the 1980s and opened his own private law firm, Columbia and Manning, where he practiced for 24 years. Newman spent 17 years as an assistant solicitor until the South Carolina General Assembly elected him as circuit court judge in 2000.

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Newman, who is a married father of four, enjoys traveling and spending time “in the country,” according to his biography. He has been the judge overseeing the trial of Alex Murdaugh, a prominent lawyer in the area who was arrested in connection to the murder of his wife and son, as well as other alleged crimes.

The trial has been ongoing for over a month and has garnered national attention due to the high-profile nature of the case. Throughout the proceedings, Newman has maintained an impartial demeanor and has been praised by both the prosecution and the defense for his handling of the case.

As the trial continues, all eyes will remain on Judge Clifton Newman as he navigates this complex and emotionally charged case.