Wednesday headlines: State won't seek death penalty for Murdaugh, top prosecutor says

State prosecutors announced Tuesday they won’t seek the death penalty for disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh, accused of murdering his wife and son as well as a host of financial crimes, according to S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson.

“After carefully reviewing this case and all the surrounding facts, we have decided to seek life without parole for Alex Murdaugh,” Wilson said Tuesday.

Lawyers for Murdaugh, who has pleaded not guilty and repeatedly denied involvement with the murders, welcomed the move, the Associated Press reported, saying it moves impediments to starting the trial as scheduled next month. Murdaugh also faces dozens of finance related charges, including tax evasion.

CP OPINION: A lump of coal for the College of Charleston

“Reserve a special lump of coal for the College of Charleston for its scheduled Dec. 20 unveiling of a portrait of its former president, Glenn McConnell, on the 162nd anniversary of South Carolina’s secession from the Union.

“To mark McConnell’s presidency just about any other day wouldn’t cause a stir, but his thrall with the Confederacy over his long career sours the occasion. What should be a day of celebration for the former lieutenant governor is a wound by the college that’s self-inflicted at best.”

REMEMBER TO VOTE to nominate your favorite businesses for the Best of Charleston 2023 awards.

In other recent news:

Covid cases, deaths rise in South Carolina. State health officials reported 7,999 new cases of Covid-19 between Dec. 11-17 — 1,498 more cases than the previous week. For the week ending Dec. 17, state officials reported 23 people died from Covid-19.

Dangerous cold to hit state; first day of winter. Strong winds and bitter cold will grip much of the country this week.

S.C. unemployment rate steady at 3.3%. November’s rate was the same as a month earlier, state officials said.

State home sales sank for 12th straight month. But the median value rose $35,000, according to reports.

Water Mission gets $2.3 million grant to expand safe water in Ukraine. Local nonprofit Water Mission announced Tuesday plans to use a $2.27 million grant to fund its Safe Water Ukraine program. The program expands access to emergency safe water in four southeastern regions of the country impacted by the ongoing war.

Charleston charter school’s teachers walk out after board election questioned. Almost half of Charleston Advancement Academy (CAA) High School’s 31 staff members didn’t go to work Dec. 14 at its James Island and North Charleston campuses. A day earlier, the board of directors told them the school’s administrator, director Wayne Stevens, resigned.

For more news like this, sign up for daily news updates with our friends at SCClips.com.