Photo: Tribune News Service
The murder trial ofĀ Alex MurdaughĀ was suspended on Wednesday (February 8) after officials received aĀ possible bomb threat. JudgeĀ Clifton NewmanĀ ordered everybody out of the Colleton County courthouse just before 12:30 p.m. local time.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have to evacuate the building at this time, so we'll be in recess until we discover what's going on,"Ā he said.
Michael GunnĀ of Forge Consulting was on the standĀ testifying for the prosecutionĀ during the 13th day of the trial when Newman ordered everybody to leave.
The jurors and court employees were advised to go to a staging area across the street while Murdaugh was taken away in a police car. Newman said that evacuation wouldĀ count as the court's lunch break.
Officials said officers are working to clear the courthouse, and they expect proceedings to resume around 2:30 p.m.
Murdaugh is on trial for shooting his estranged wife,Ā Maggie Murdaugh, and his 22-year-old son,Ā Paul Murdaugh, in 2021 to cover up the financial schemes he was allegedly involved in.