Murder trial of Ryan Woodruff, already serving two life terms, enters Day 3 in Georgetown

Ryan Woodruff, convicted of double murder in 2024, stands trial for a third killing. Testimony on Day 3 focused on a denied motion and the judge's proposed verdicts.

Georgetown murder trial: Woodruff's motion denied as judge presents proposed verdicts

Ryan Woodruff, a Georgetown man already serving two life sentences for a 2024 double-murder conviction, is back in court facing a third murder charge, counton2.com reports.

Woodruff is accused of killing 19-year-old Ty'quez Walker in January 2023 at a residence on Meadow Street. He was previously convicted in October 2024 of killing two relatives, Roger Woodruff and Debra Goins.

On the third day of the trial, the defence attempted to file a motion arguing there was no malice — the judge denied it. Woodruff was given the opportunity to testify but declined. The judge subsequently presented proposed charges and three possible verdicts for both sides to review.

The case has also drawn attention to questions about the bail system. At the time of the Walker shooting in January 2023, Woodruff had been released on bond in connection with the separate double-murder case that would later result in his life sentences.

Day two of the trial, held Wednesday, saw prosecutors call Georgetown County investigators, sheriff's deputies, and members of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to the stand. A significant portion of that testimony addressed whether Woodruff was informed he was free to leave the scene at the time he gave a statement — a key question now that he has moved from witness to defendant.

The first witness on day two used gunshot residue kits and found residue on Woodruff consistent with a shotgun he is believed to have fired. A second witness, a DNA specialist, said she conducted multiple analyses on items recovered from the scene; several of those items, including the trigger of a Browning shotgun, produced results she described as strongly supporting the prosecution's case.

The trial is ongoing.

Source: Google News GY — Georgetown