Alex Murdaugh cries as the murder of his wife and son is described by Colleton County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Daniel Greene during Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool
Joshua Boucher
jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh, a former lawyer from a prominent family, was found guilty for murdering his wife Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul Murdaugh on Friday, March 3 after a six-week long trial in Walterboro, South Carolina. Over those six weeks, journalists from all over the world descended onto Colleton County to document the two sides presenting their best case to the jury.
The State photojournalist Joshua Boucher documented all six weeks of the trial, more than any other photographer covering the trial. Boucher, The State’s Jeff Blake and two photographers from The Post and Courier served as “pool” photographers, meaning they provided their images from inside the courtroom to all media attending the trial. Events with limited space and a high demand for news photographs often are covered by pool photographers and reporters. This form of mutual aid allowed for more complete coverage of Alex Murdaugh’s double-murder trial.
The following image are Boucher’s telling of what happened in and around the Colleton County Courthouse throughout the trial.
Audience members wait to watch Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse after a bomb threat caused an evacuation on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh and his attorneys prepare for his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Dick Harpootlian speaks with Creighton Waters during jury selection for the Alex Murdaugh murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on Monday, January 23, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters speaks with his team during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, January 27, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian, prosecutor Creighton Waters and prosecutor Savanna Goude review evidence in Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, January 27, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters speaks with defense attorney Dick Harpootlian before witness testimony continues during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, January 27, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh cries as the murder of his wife and son is described by Colleton County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Daniel Greene during Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Reporters Elizabeth Campbell, Carol Gable and Will Folks strain to see video evidence on computer monitors during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Members of the public watch as witness testimony continues during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, January 27, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh speaks with his attorney Dick Harpootlian as hi trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse breaks for the day on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters asks witness Jeff Croft, a SLED senior special agent, questions about weapons and ammunition collected from Alex Murdaugh’s home during Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Monday, January 30, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and the prosecution prepare for another day of Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters asks witness Jeanne Seckinger questions about Alex Murdaugh’s alleged financial crimes during his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh places his hand over his face during a break in his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, January 27, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
A member of the audience watches a video interview, mouth agape, during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Dr. Ellen Riemer, forensic pathologist, demonstrates on defense attorney Phillip Barber where she determines a gunshot injured Paul Murdaugh during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Kenneth Kinsey, crime scene specialist, shows where he believes a shotgun round entered Paul Murdaugh during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian and Kenneth Kinsey estimate the distance of a shotgun during Paul Murdaugh’s murder during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Buster Murdaugh listens to his father, Alex Murdaugh’s, recorded interview where he describes a suicide attempt he planned during his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh listens to Dr. Paul McManigal’s testimony during Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Defense attorney Jim Griffin measures Alex Murdaugh during a break in his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
The prosecution prepares for Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse to resume on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
SLED Special Agent Peter Rudofski gestures how someone may have made a phone call using Alex Murdaugh’s phone while looking and turning his wife Maggie Murdaugh’s phone during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, February 17, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Wedneday, February 22, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian and defense attorney Phillip Barber speak between questioning Micah Sturgis, cell phone forensics expert, during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh stands next to the witness booth during a break in his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters asks Alex Murdaugh to remember a specific time he lied to a client’s face during Murdaigh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh cries while recounting what he loves about his wife Maggie Murdaugh during his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters cross examines Alex Murdaugh during Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, February 24, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh cries as the shooting injuries his family suffered are described in detail during his trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters listens to defense attorney Dick Harpootlian during Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Prosecutor Creighton Waters makes closing arguments in Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Defense attorney Jim Griffin gives his closing arguments in Alex Murdaugh’s trial for murder at the Colleton County Courthouse on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh is taken to the Colleton County Courthouse for sentencing on Friday, March 3, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Tracy Kinsinger, of Beaufort, South Carolina, holds up a sign he made last night for Alex Murdaugh to see as he walks into the Colleton County Courthouse for sentencing on Friday, March 3, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Media and audience members enter the Colleton County Courthouse before Alex Murdaugh is sentenced for the murder of his wife and son at on Friday, March 3, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Alex Murdaugh is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murder of his wife and son by Judge Clifton Newman at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, March 3, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Buster Murdaugh, the son of Alex Murdaugh, listens as his father is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murder of his wife Maggie and son Paul by Judge Clifton Newman at the Colleton County Courthouse on Friday, March 3, 2023. Joshua Boucher/The State/Pool Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Follow More of Our Reporting on Murdaugh family news and updates
Photojournalist Joshua Boucher joined The State in January, 2020. They graduated from Bennington College in 2012 and the University of Missouri’s journalism graduate program in 2015. Boucher previously worked at the Texarkana Gazette and the Panama City News Herald, where they won numerous awards including first place for Sports Action photography in the National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism in 2018.
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