Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, the South Carolina lawyer convicted final week of murdering his wife and son, appealed his conviction and life sentence on Thursday, in response to courtroom data.
Murdaugh, 54, a member of a strong South Carolina household, was discovered responsible on March 2 on two counts of capturing his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, on their household property on June 7, 2021.
Attorneys for Murdaugh, whom prosecutors mentioned carried out the murders as a part of an try to cover a drug habit and theft of tens of millions of {dollars}, filed a discover of attraction earlier than the state’s appeals courtroom.
Circuit Court docket Choose Clifton Newman on Friday sentenced Murdaugh to jail for the rest of his life, with phrases for each murders to run consecutively. It was the sentence requested by prosecutors, who didn’t search the dying penalty.
The scion of an influential authorized household in an space west of Charleston, Murdaugh had confronted a minimal of 30 years in jail for every of the 2 counts of homicide beneath South Carolina legislation, in addition to as much as 10 years for two associated firearms fees.
WATCH | Choose sentences Murdaugh:
Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in jail for killing wife, son
Disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to 2 consecutive life phrases on Friday for the 2021 murders of his wife and son.
For many years till 2006, Murdaugh members of the family served because the main prosecutor within the space, and Murdaugh was a distinguished private harm legal professional within the state.
Murdaugh has maintained his innocence.
Throughout his trial, prosecutors mentioned Murdaugh fatally shot his wife and son to distract from an array of economic misdeeds, together with the theft of tens of millions of {dollars} from his legislation companions and shoppers, cash used to feed a years-long habit to opioids and assist an costly way of life.
Murdaugh’s legal professionals tried to color their consumer as a loving household man who, whereas dealing with monetary difficulties and a drug habit, would by no means hurt his wife and little one.
The jury deliberated for lower than three hours earlier than discovering Murdaugh responsible. The South Carolina lawyer additionally stole tens of millions of {dollars} from largely poor shoppers’ settlements and staged an try on his life to safe his surviving son, Buster, a $12 million US life insurance coverage payout, in response to authorities.
