Alex Murdaugh, the former South Carolina lawyer who is accused of killing his wife and son, took the stand in his own defense on Thursday, exactly four years after a fatal boat crash involving his son.

In the early morning hours of February 23rd, 2019, 19-year-old Paul Murdaugh was allegedly driving a boat with five passengers on board when it crashed into the Archers Creek Bridge, killing one and injuring four others. Two of the passengers on board were Paul's girlfriend and her boyfriend, who both claimed that Paul was driving erratically and that he refused to let them disembark. Surveillance footage showed Paul purchasing alcohol at a local convenience store and drinking shots shortly before the crash.

An autopsy report later showed that Paul had a blood alcohol concentration of .24, which is three times the legal limit. Paul was later determined to be liable for Mallory Beach's death