South Carolina attorney Murdaugh appeals conviction of murdering wife, son

March 9 (Reuters) – Richard “Alex” Murdaugh, the South Carolina lawyer convicted final week of murdering his spouse and son, appealed his conviction and life sentence on Thursday, in response to courtroom data.

Murdaugh, 54, a member of a strong South Carolina household, was discovered responsible on March 2 on two counts of capturing his spouse Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, on their household property on June 7, 2021.

Attorneys for Murdaugh, who prosecutors stated carried out the murders as a part of an try to cover a drug habit and theft of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, filed a discover of attraction earlier than the state’s appeals courtroom.

Circuit Court docket Decide Clifton Newman on March 3 sentenced Murdaugh to jail for the rest of his life, with phrases for each murders to run consecutively. It was the sentence requested by prosecutors, who didn’t search the loss of life penalty.

The scion of an influential authorized household in an space west of Charleston, Murdaugh had confronted a minimal of 30 years in jail for every of the 2 counts of homicide below South Carolina legislation, in addition to as much as 10 years for 2 associated firearms fees.

For many years till 2006, Murdaugh members of the family served because the main prosecutor within the space, and Murdaugh was a outstanding private damage lawyer within the state.

Murdaugh has maintained his innocence.

Throughout his trial, prosecutors stated Murdaugh fatally shot his spouse and son to distract from an array of monetary misdeeds, together with the theft of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from his legislation companions and purchasers, cash used to feed a years-long habit to opioids and help an costly way of life.

Murdaugh’s legal professionals tried to color their shopper as a loving household man who, whereas dealing with monetary difficulties and a drug habit, would by no means hurt his spouse and youngster.

Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Enhancing by David Gregorio

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