Alex Murdau sentenced to life in prison for murdering wife and son
![](http://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2023/03/03/fd165968-4705-47fa-9add-cadf1dfbb222/thumbnail/1200x630/0cebfdd804c3cf53b5758f4f44ad1e5e/2023-03-03t163504z-547320115-rc2fmz9qeltf-rtrmadp-3-south-carolina-crime.jpg)
’48 Hours’ airs ‘The Trial of Alex Murdau’ on Saturday 10/9c.
Alex Murdau Sentenced to life in prison in South Carolina Friday morning. murder, and possession of a weapon during the crime.
Judge Clifton Newman has announced sentences of “the rest of your natural life” in prison for each of the two murders that serve back-to-back sentences. was not sentenced on the charges.
Murdow spoke briefly in court before the sentence was handed down, denying he had hurt his wife or son.
“I respect this court, but I am innocent,” Murdow told the judge.
“And it might not have been you,” Newman replied. “If you take 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 opioid pills, you may become a monster. You may become a different person.”
Andrew J. Whitaker/Pool/USA Today Network via Reuters
The convicted former attorney and judge exchanged words several times during Friday’s brief hearing. I asked why you used
“When I lied, I was going to keep lying,” Murdoh said.
“And the question is, when will it end, when will it end,” said the judge. “The jury concluded that you lied and continued to lie during your testimony, so it’s already finished.”
When Murdo stand up in court, he repeatedly broke down in tears during his two-day testimony as he denied killing. But his testimony also included him admitting to lying to investigators, and the evidence presented by the prosecution put him at the scene the night of the murder.
After the ruling, defense attorney Dick Harputrian told reporters that Murdoh was “stripped of his credibility” when prosecutors were allowed to include his alleged financial crimes in the case. Murdoh said he had to testify.
“He was a monster who stole from children and was supposed to be a crippled person, so he had no choice. He had just done something horrible and despicable and he tried to push it back.” “I had to,” Harputrian said at a press conference.
Harpootlian said a notice of intent to appeal will be filed within 10 days. Attorney Jim Griffin said the defense team will appeal to the Supreme Court if necessary.
In an interview with CBS News correspondent Nicky Baptiste, Griffin said he believed Murdo was innocent.
“We believe he has a very strong attraction, and I think Dick for a different reason, so we’re going to keep fighting. All the more so for the reason they were given,” said Griffin.
Murdoh’s family, including his surviving son Buster, did not speak in court during Friday’s sentencing. Griffin told reporters that it would have made no difference if Buster had spoken to the judge.
“I could have sent a sentence to Mother Teresa on behalf of Alex,” Griffin said. “So he was given a double life sentence. That was to be expected.”
Prosecutor Clayton Waters said Murdoh showed a lack of remorse for the killing and asked the judge to impose a maximum sentence of two life sentences.
“This case is about Maggie Murdau and Paul Murdau, and I am very grateful that the jury called them out,” Waters said.
A judge addressed the victim when he spoke with Murdow.
“I know I have to see Paul and Maggie at night when I’m trying to sleep,” Newman said. “Surely they will come to see you.”
“All day, every night,” Murdow replied.
“They will continue to do so and will look back on the last time they looked you in the eye like you looked the jury in the eye,” Newman said.
Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP
The judge noted that prosecutors chose not to pursue the death penalty in the case, and that Murdoh had prosecuted a defendant who was once sentenced to death.
“It’s probably because of the lack of behavior,” Mr. Neumann said.
At a press conference Thursday night, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said: verdict It came after “almost two years of blood, sweat and tears from many hard working people”.
“Our criminal justice system worked tonight. It gave voice to Maggie and Paul Murdau, who were brutally beaten down by someone they knew and trusted,” Wilson said.
After the verdict was read out, the defense moved to dismiss it and the trial was declared erroneous, but Newman denied the request, citing the vast amount of evidence and testimony considered by the jury. , reported the Associated Press.
“The jury has been reviewing the evidence for quite some time now and the incriminating evidence is overwhelming,” he said.
Murdoh faces another trial in the future over numerous financial crimes.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alex-murdaugh-trial-sentencing-murders-life-in-prison/ Alex Murdau sentenced to life in prison for murdering wife and son