Alex Murdaugh jailed for life over ‘savage’ murder of wife and son
The scion of a prominent American legal family has been jailed for life without parole for “savagely” murdering his wife and son.
Alex Murdaugh, 54, shot dead his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, at their family estate in South Carolina on June 7, 2021.
The trial captivated America for the last six weeks and Murdaugh, a disbarred lawyer and opioid addict, was convicted by a jury on Thursday night.
Judge Clifton Newman condemned his “duplicitous conduct” in the trial, handed down two consecutive life sentences, and said Murdaugh would spend the “rest of your natural life” behind bars.
‘It might have been the monster you become’
In a deeply personal address to the court the judge said he had known the defendant for years, had presided over cases argued by Murdaugh, and seen him at “various occasions”.
Judge Newman told Murdaugh: “You had such a lovely family, such friendly people, including you. To go from that to this…
“It might not have been you. It might have been the monster you become when you take…up to 60 opioid pills.”
The judge said it was “especially heartbreaking for me to see you go from being a grieving father” to someone convicted of murder, one of the “most heinous crimes known to man”.
The judge said Murdaugh had “savagely” murdered his son, who he “probably loved very much,” and “within your own soul you’ll have to deal with that”.
He told Murdaugh: “You’ll have to see Paul and Maggie during the night time when you’re attempting to go to sleep, I’m sure they come and visit you.”
Murdaugh responded “All day, all night,” and the judge said “I’m sure, and they will continue to.”
Asked if he wanted to address the court, Murdaugh stood and said: “I’m innocent. I would never hurt my wife Maggie, and I would never hurt my son Paul. Thank you.”
‘The depravity, callousness, selfishness of this crime is stunning’
Prosecutor Creighton Waters told the court Murdaugh was a “cunning manipulator, a man who placed himself above all others, including his family.”
He said: “No one close to this man knew who he really was. The depravity, callousness, selfishness of this crime is stunning.
“The lack of remorse…a man like this man should never be allowed to be among free, law abiding citizens.”
Murdaugh had worn a dress shirt and sport coat during the trial, but was brought to court for the sentencing in a prison jumpsuit.
The sentencing took place in a courtroom in Colleton County, South Carolina where Murdaugh’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather tried cases as prosecutors for a century.
His grandfather’s portrait had hung in the back of the courtroom until the judge ordered it taken down for the trial.
‘A good liar, but not good enough’
The jury had taken less than three hours to find him guilty of two charges of murder.
Juror Craig Moyer later said Murdaugh had been “a good liar, but not good enough.” On the witness stand Murdaugh had appeared to cry as he repeatedly denied the murders.
But Mr Moyer said: “He never cried. All he did was blow snot. No tears. I saw his eyes.”
Murdaugh made millions of dollars as a lawyer suing companies on behalf of people who had been injured.
Prosecutors said he cheated his legal partners and clients out of larges sums of money to fund an addiction to opioids.
They said the motive for the murders was that Murdaugh wanted to garner sympathy and distract attention from his financial crimes.
