After five and a half weeks, closing arguments began around midday Wednesday in the double murder trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, charged with the June 6, 2021, killings of his wife and son.

Creighton Waters, lead prosecutor for the S.C. Attorney General's Office, began the State's closing by reminding the jury of the perfect financial and drug-related storm brewing in Murdaugh's life during the summer of the killings, and that he was the only person who "had the motive, had the means, and had the opportunity to commit these crimes, and his guilty conduct after the crimes betrayed him."

Waters described Murdaugh as a prominent man from a legacy family who had been able to avoid accountability his entire life - and a man who was "living a lie," running out of money and couldn't "beg, borrow, or steal it" fast enough.

He also reminded the jury of the facts in evidence.

"The timeline puts him there. The use of his family weapons collaborates that, and his lies and guilty actions confirm that."

"Every crime has been dependent on him being able to look people in the eye and convince them what they are doing is right," he added.

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Waters reminded the jury of Murdaugh's many "lies" and questionable statments, both to police after the murders and on the witness stand, when he testified to taking "1,000 milligrams of Oxy" a day.

"I'm not sure that's even survivable," said Waters. "We are going to talk about how many times he looked you in the eye and didn't tell the truth."

He reminded the jury that Murdaugh himself had said that drug withdrawals will "make you do anything," but added that the law still holds intoxicated or drugged people responsible for their actions.

Waters also used a PowerPoint presentation to remind the jury of the legal definitions for murder and reasonable doubt, and that the law places just as much weight on circumstantial evidence as it does direct evidence.

Waters is expected to resume his closing remarks at 2:20 p.m.

Wednesday a.m. updates in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial

After 27 days, more than 70 witnesses – some called to the stand more than once – and hundreds of exhibits of evidence, testimony finally ended Tuesday in the double murder trial of disgraced lawyer Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, charged with killing his wife and child on the night of June 7, 2021.

The next step on this legal journey will be a 9:30 a.m. Wednesday “jury view” of the crime scene, Moselle, where Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were graphically and violently slain.

On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Newman outlined the procedures and rules surrounding the jury’s “field trip.” Several bailiffs were sworn in to transport and escort the jurors and alternates to Moselle, where no one will be allowed to talk to them except the judge, nor can they ask questions of anyone but Newman.

The site visit will be restricted to just the dog kennels where the pair were slain, and nowhere else on the property. Law enforcement will secure the scene in advance to ensure onlookers and curious spectators are not on the scene.

In addition to Newman, attorneys for both sides will be present. Three members of the media will be allowed to visit as a media pool after the jury leaves, and they can stay for 30 minutes. That media pool will include a Court TV videographer, a pool photographer, and a print journalist selected at random: Valerie Bauerlein of the Wall Street Journal.

What’s next in Murdaugh murder case? Closing arguments to begin Wednesday.

Court is expected to resume Wednesday at 11 a.m. or shortly after, and aside from any last-minute motions or unexpected matters of law, closing arguments will begin around midday.

In closings, the State will present its closing argument in full, followed by the defense’s closing argument. The State will then have one final session to reply or rebut any new claims or new information the defense introduces in its closings.

Judge Newman has indicated that he is not included to set a time limit on closings, but each side indicated they would need roughly two hours.

Once final arguments are complete, Newman will “charge” the jury with instructions on the law and their duties, and the jury will begin to deliberate. It is mostly likely that the jury will have the case for deliberation by sometime early Thursday.

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Murdaugh trial updates: Closing arguments follow jury trip to scene