(Updated 3/3/23) Convicted murderer and former lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for shooting his wife and younger son in June 2021.
Jurors on Thursday afternoon found Murdaugh guilty of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. His six-week trial in rural Colleton County has gripped the nation.
In the Colleton County Courthouse today, S.C. Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman gave Murdaugh a chance to speak before sentencing him to two consecutive life sentences.
“As I tell you again, I respect this court,” Murdaugh said, according to the Associated Press. “But I am innocent. I would never under any circumstances hurt my wife Maggie and I would never under any circumstances hurt my son Paul-Paul,”
Newman replied, noting Murdaugh’s dependence on painkillers: “And it might not have been you. It might have been the monster you become when you take 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 opioid pills. Maybe you become another person.”
Verdict came in less than three hours
Jurors deliberated for less than three hours Thursday before delivering their verdict. Alex Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Following a long investigation stemming from the June 2021 shootings, prosecutors argued Alex Murdaugh killed his family to gain sympathy and buy time to cover up the theft from clients of millions of dollars over years that was on the verge of being discovered. They also said that after the murders, he staged an attempt on his own life to secure a multimillion dollar life insurance payout for his surviving son. The convicted killer still faces dozens of charges related to alleged financial wrongdoings.
During the six-week trial attended daily by more than 200 people, jurors heard from more than 75 witnesses and saw hundreds of pieces of evidence. This week, they also visited the scene of the killings, the family’s Moselle estate in Hampton and Colleton counties.
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were found fatally shot near dog kennels at the estate. Alex Murdaugh admitted in court that he previously lied to investigators, telling them he was not at the kennels before finding their bodies. He also admitted to stealing from his clients, but strongly insisted he was innocent in the deaths of his wife and son.
- Previous 2021 coverage: Everything you need to know about the Murdaugh murders in 2 minutes
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