ISLAMABAD: In a case that shook the US, disgraced ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sent to prison for life after he was found guilty of killing his wife and son.
A jury found the 54-year-old former lawyer guilty of the crime less than three hours before the South Carolina hearing that announced the prison sentence.
On June 7, 2021, Murdaugh’s wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, were fatally murdered at close range on their family’s estate. He allegedly killed his wife and son to evoke compassion and deflect attention from his financial crimes.
Murdaugh’s past as “a well-known member of the legal community” was mentioned by Judge Clifton Newman, who termed the case “one of the most worrisome” he had ever encountered. He said that Murdaugh had previously practiced law and that they had crossed paths.
The region was known as “Murdaugh Country,” and Alex Murdaugh presided over a legal dynasty that had held sway for decades. Judge Newman stated that while he respected the state’s choice to seek the death penalty, he also pointed out that Murdaugh’s own family had executed members for lesser crimes.
During a six-week trial, the disbarred lawyer was found guilty of two charges of murder. Investigators testified at the trial about how Murdaugh stole almost $9 million from clients to support his opioid addiction and opulent lifestyle.
Ex-lawyer Murdaugh maintained his innocence.
Murdaugh spoke briefly twice during his sentencing on Friday to maintain his innocence. His lawyers stated that he would file an appeal against the life sentence within ten days. Buster Murdaugh,
Murdaugh’s surviving son, sat frozen in place and silent throughout the proceedings, even as the judge sentenced his father to two life sentences in succession. The judge also suggested that the murders may have been committed while under the influence of drugs.
According to local media, male prisoners usually get a haircut when they arrive in prison. According to the SCDC, he will spend the next 45 days in the intake process, where his medical and mental health and educational level will be assessed. He will be transferred to a maximum-security prison after 45 days.
During a news conference following the sentence, Murdaugh’s lawyers stated that they did not assume it was a mistake for him to testify during the trial. They called the decision of Judge Newman decision to allow evidence related to the financial crimes of Murdaugh to be included in the murder trial “erroneous.”
The high-profile case has sparked true crime podcasts and documentaries across the country.
