Daughter of carer who testified she saw Murdaugh on night of double murders ... trends now
The daughter of the caregiver who poked holes in Alex Murdaugh's alibi on the night of the murders has set up a GoFundMe page to 'reward her mother's bravery' but a legal expert has warned it 'looks like she's being paid for her testimony.'
Rachelle Buckner, Shelly Smith's daughter, has so far raised more than $7,000, including an anonymous donation of $1,000 that was made in the first hour of the fundraising page being created.
Former prosecutor Lori Murray told DailyMail.com 'it clearly doesn't look good.'
'I find it especially suspect because it was the first donation, it was done within an hour of the page being set up,' she added.
However, the attorney does not believe there is anything sinister at work. Murdaugh's double-murder trial is gripping the public and many people have expressed sympathy for Smith online.
'I just don't think that's the case right now, there's a lot of people feeling sorry for her on social media,' Murray said.
Mushelle 'Shelly' Smith (left) - the caregiver of Murdaugh's elderly mother Elizabeth 'Libby' Alexander Murdaugh (right) - told how she spoke to the alleged killer on the night of the murders when he visited his parents house. Prosecutors say this was after he killed Maggie and Paul
Rachelle Buckner, Shelly Smith's daughter, has so far raised more than $7,000, including an anonymous donation of $1,000 that was made in the first hour of the fundraising page being created
Smith wept on Monday as she told jurors how Murdaugh had visited his mother's home on the night of the murders for around 20 minutes.
A few days later he instructed her to tell cops he had been there for 40 minutes.
Prosecutors say Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, were shot dead shortly after 8.49pm and that Murdaugh drove to his mother's home at 9.06pm in order to 'manufacture an alibi.'
