The judge shoots back after Murdo maintains his innocence and then gives him the bad news

In the culmination of the fall of a once famous lawyer, Alex Murdo was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Friday after convicted of murder his wife and son.

Judge Clifton Newman asked Murdo if he had anything he wanted to say before sentencing him to two consecutive life terms, and a South Carolina attorney confirmed his innocence.

“I tell you again, I respect this court. But I’m innocent. I would never, under any circumstances, offend My wife Maggie and I will never, under any circumstances, harm my son Paul Paul,” Murdo replied.

“Maybe it wasn’t you. It could be the monster you become when you take 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 opioid pills. Maybe you will become a different person, ”Newman replied, noting Murdo’s longstanding addiction to painkillers.

In long comments, Newman asked Murdo what he meant when he said “oh what a tangled web we spin” in his own defense when he admitted to lying to investigators about being at the nursery where Maggie and Paul Murdo were killed.

“I meant when I lied, I kept lying,” Murdo replied.

“And the question is, when will it end? You kept lying and lying during your testimony,” Newman said.

Newman also touched on the history of the Murdo family as they stood in the courtroom at the lot where his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather sat on trial for over 80 years as elected prosecutors.

“A lawyer, a man from a respected family, who has controlled justice in this community for more than a century. The man whose grandfather’s portrait hangs in the back of the courthouse, whom I ordered removed to ensure a fair trial,” Newman said.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters said that none of the victims of the crime – members of the Murdo family, parents and relatives of his wife – did not want to speak on behalf of the prosecution before sentencing.

“The viciousness, callousness, selfishness of these crimes are striking. The lack of remorse and the way he sits effortlessly, including here, sitting right there in this witness stand – your honor, such a person, such a person as this person, should never be allowed to be among free, law-abiding citizens. , Waters said.

In front of the courthouse on Friday, Tracey Kinsinger, 58, had one goal: to make Murdo see his homemade “Killer” sign he made after his “crazy run” to Walmart for supplies. For Kinsinger, who came from Beaufort, South Carolina, the result was the legal system’s justification.

“The truth is that he dishonored himself, his family, society, his profession,” Kinsinger said. “It’s shameful.”

Prosecutors have requested a life sentence to hold Murdo accountable for what they say are decades of lying, stealing and taking advantage of his family’s significant influence. tiny county in his favor. The Colleton County jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Murdo. guilty of murder his 22-year-old son with a shotgun and his 52-year-old wife with a rifle on June 7, 2021.

This was announced by juror Craig Moyer. ABC News that when discussions began, the jury immediately conducted a poll, which resulted in nine guilty votes. It didn’t take long to convince the other three.

The juror agreed with the prosecutors that the key evidence was video locked on his son’s cell phone for a year – video taken minutes before the murders in the same kennels near where the bodies were to be found.

The voices of all three Murdos are heard on the video, although Alex Murdo insisted for 20 months that he was not at the kennel that night. When he came out in his own defense, the first thing he did was admit that he had lied to investigators about being at the kennel, saying he was paranoid about law enforcement because he was addicted to opioids and had I had pills in my pocket. murders.

“Good liar. But not good enough,” Moyer said.

Prosecutors did not have the weapon used to kill Murdo, nor any other direct evidence, such as confessions or blood spatter. But they had mountain of circumstantial evidenceincluding a video of Murdo at the scene of the murder five minutes before his wife and son permanently stopped using their cell phones.

With over 75 witnesses and nearly 800 pieces of evidence, the jury learned about Murdo’s devoted friends and clients. failed attempt to fake his own death V insurance fraud schemefatal boat wreck in which his son was involved, housekeeper who died in a fall at Murdo’s house and the gruesome murder scene.

Now disqualified lawyer confessed to stealing millions of dollars from the family firm and clients, stating that he needed the money to finance his drug addiction. Before he was charged with murder, Murdo was in prison awaiting trial for about 100 other fees from insurance fraud to tax evasion.

At a press conference after the verdict, South Carolina law enforcement chief Mark Keel said the case served as a notice to anyone who helped Murdo in dozens of other alleged crimes.

“Today is not the end. This is the next step on the long road to justice for everyone who has been a victim of Alex Murdo,” Keel said.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press article and may have revised it prior to publication to ensure it meets our editorial standards.