Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on their family estate in South Carolina. Murdaugh, who had been a well-known member of the legal community, was convicted of two counts of murder after a six-week trial.
The jury took less than three hours to reach a verdict. The case shocked the US, and prosecutors argued that Murdaugh killed his wife and son to divert attention from his financial crimes and gain sympathy.
During the sentencing, Judge Clifton Newman described the case as “one of the most troubling” he had seen and noted Murdaugh’s past as a well-known member of the legal community. He acknowledged the decision by the state not to seek the death penalty but noted that Murdaugh’s own family had prosecuted people who had received the death penalty for lesser conduct.
Prosecutors revealed during the trial that Murdaugh had stolen nearly $9 million from clients to fund an addiction to painkillers and a lavish lifestyle. The judge suggested that the murders may have been carried out under the influence of drugs. Murdaugh’s lawyers said they would appeal against the life terms within 10 days.
The case has captured national attention and has been the subject of true crime podcasts and documentaries. The high-profile case has shaken the community and cast a shadow over the legal dynasty that the Murdaugh family had occupied for decades.
