South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, a well-known figure in Democratic Party circles, has been convicted of the murder of his wife and son.
The verdict was announced on Thursday, following just three hours of deliberation by the jury.
On Friday, Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
“As I tell you again, I respect this court. 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,” Murdaugh responded after Judge Clifton Newman asked if he had anything he wanted to say before sentencing him to two consecutive life terms.
Murdaugh, who comes from a prominent Democratic family, was found guilty on two counts of murder and two counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The charges were related to the June 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and his 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh.
The trial, which lasted for six weeks, garnered significant media attention due to the high-profile nature of the case and the Murdaugh family’s ties to the Democratic Party.
According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports, Alex Murdaugh donated thousands of dollars to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, as well as to other Democratic candidates over the years, including Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, National File notes.
Prior to the trial, two jurors believed that Murdaugh was not guilty of murdering his son and wife.
However, the jury ultimately reached a unanimous decision after only 45 minutes of deliberation, according to Law & Crime.
During the trial, Murdaugh’s various admissions to crucial lies did not work in his favor.
Jurors were reportedly able to see that he was present at the scene of the murders before they occurred.
The video recorded at the dog kennels, where Murdaugh’s voice was heard on the day of the murders, also played a role in his conviction.
Jurors were in agreement that they could hear Murdaugh’s voice in the video.
One juror, Craig Moyer, noted that Murdaugh’s background as a lawyer did not sway the jury.
Moyer considered Murdaugh’s testimony to be rehearsed and viewed him as a “big liar.”
Prosecutors emphasized Murdaugh’s history of lying during closing arguments and argued that he could not be trusted when he claimed to be a liar but not a killer.
Murdaugh now faces a minimum sentence of 30 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
