The video at the top of the story will play a live video feed of the Friday, Feb. 24 proceedings in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial or a replay upon completion.

Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh denied killing his wife and son but admitted lying to investigators about when he last saw them alive as he took the stand in his own defense Thursday.

Murdaugh, 54, is charged with murder in the fatal shootings of his wife, Maggie, 52, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, who were killed near kennels on their property on June 7, 2021. In his testimony, Murdaugh continued to staunchly deny any role in the killings.

“I would never intentionally do anything to hurt either one of them,” Murdaugh said, tears running down his cheeks.

Power, prestige and privilege:Inside the rise and fall of the Murdaugh dynasty in South Carolina

The trial will conclude its fifth week on Friday with proceedings beginning at 9:30 a.m.

At the end of Thursday's session, prosecutor Creighton Waters told judge Clifton Newman the cross-examination of Murdaugh may take another "three or four hours" Friday.

Check back for updates.

Alex Murdaugh's demeanor during the trial

At times during the first 20 days of this trial and as the State presented it's case, Murdaugh appeared angry and yet at other times he'd sneer at the prosecution.

On the stand Thursday, Murdaugh fought through tears as he talked about "Mags" and "Paul Paul" during examination by his defense attorney, Jim Griffin. During Creighton Waters' cross-examination, Murdaugh seemed matter-of-fact and defensive, at times.

As the testimony of how his wife's pancreas, kidney, and other organs were annihilated by 300 Blackout rounds designed to take down wild boar or how his son's brain landed at the victim's feet, Murdaugh rocks, hangs his head and weeps.

Yet in other moments, files in hand, Murdaugh strategizes like the lawyer in the case, then laughs with his defense team and appears jovial, as if he has forgotten that he is accused of the unthinkable.

When Murdaugh's defense team started with their witnesses, Murdaugh peered at them, sometimes over the bridge of glasses perched at the end of his nose, seeming to analyze every word that came out.

Alex Murdaugh murder trial: The State's evidence likely to impact the Colleton County jury

What evidence will have an impact on the Colleton County jury in the Alex Murdaugh trial, and will it stick? What is the State's most powerful evidence?

Here's Michael DeWitt's analysis of what may transpire this week in court.

Witness list in the Alex Murdaugh trial

Murdaugh is now one of the dozens of people to take the witness stand in this case.

The parade of witnesses that have already taken the stand and could still potentially take it ranges from investigators with different South Carolina police departments to Alex Murdaugh's still-living son, Buster. Testimony from those witnesses was on hold Friday morning as Judge Clifton Newman heard arguments and debated whether to allow evidence of the former South Carolina attorney's alleged financial crimes and other "bad acts" as motive in the deaths of Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, and son, Paul.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Alex Murdaugh trial updates: Murdaugh cross-examination continues