Bomb threat halts Alex Murdaugh trial, courthouse evacuated

A bomb threat was called in Wednesday to the South Carolina courthouse hosting the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh while proceedings were taking place, court officials said.

Just before 12:30 p.m., Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman calmly told a packed courtroom in the Colleton County Courthouse that "we have to evacuate the building at this time. We'll be in recess until we discover what's going on."

The sudden announcement came after a witness had just been sworn in during the trial, which opened Jan. 23 and is being televised. Murdaugh was walked out of a back door, while members of his family, who have been sitting in rows behind the defense table, were escorted out.

"Alex was taken by the police, but they grabbed the family and rushed them out ahead of us," said Marty Yates, a spectator in the courtroom. "And then we all evacuated the building and have scattered around."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alex-murdaugh-trial-halted-courthouse-evacuated-bomb-threat-rcna69739

Wonder who he paid to do that, and how much? /s