Alex Murdaugh sentencing updates: Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son -

The video above will play a live feed of Alex Murdaugh’s sentencing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — Judge Clifton Newman sentenced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh to two consecutive life sentences without parole Friday, a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son.

Murdaugh soon will be taken to a state prison where he will be held in the highest security.

As Murdaugh stood before the judge to learn his fate, he was in the same courtroom on the circuit where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather tried cases as the elected prosecutor for more than 80 years. His grandfather’s portrait hung in the back of the room until the judge ordered it taken down for the trial.

Instead of the dress shirt and sport coat he wore through the six-week trial, the attorney who made millions suing big companies on behalf of people injured in wrecks arrived at court in a jail jumpsuit the day after he was convicted of two counts of murder.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters said none of the victims of the crime — members of Murdaugh’s family and the parents and relatives of his wife — wished to speak on behalf of the prosecution before sentencing. Waters asked for back-to-back life sentences for Murdaugh.

“The depravity, the callousness, the selfishness of these crimes are stunning. The lack of remorse and the effortless way in which he is, including here, sitting right over there in this witness stand — your honor, a man like that, a man like this man, should never be allowed to be among free, law abiding citizens,” Waters said.

Alex Murdaugh, Judge Clifton Newman exchange before sentencing

Murdaugh made a statement before his sentencing.

“I’m innocent. I would never hurt Maggie. And I would never hurt Paul Paul,” he said.

Newman stated in his lead-up to sentencing, questioning Murdaugh about his testimony when he said, “When you said, what a tangled web we weave? What did you mean?”

“I meant when I lied, I continued to lie,” Murdaugh said.

“When will it end?” Newman continued.

Murdaugh denied innocence again before his sentencing.

“I respect this court but I would never kill Maggie or Paul Paul,” he said.

Newman replied, “It may not have been you. It may have been the monster you become when you take 40, 50, 60 opioid pills.”

At 10:13 p.m., he banged the gavel, “Court is adjourned.”

The minimum sentence for murder in South Carolina is 30 years, with life as the maximum. The State is asking for life without parole.

More than 75 witnesses were called and about 800 photographs, reports and exhibits were presented as evidence. Jurors visited the crime scene Wednesday before the prosecution and defense gave closing arguments over parts of two days.

When closing arguments wrapped up Thursday, the judge turned Murdaugh’s fate over to jurors, who took less than three hours to come back with their verdict.

Murdaugh’s legal team will not be commenting prior to sentencing.

Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin said they will be addressing the media in front of the Colleton County Courthouse following the sentencing hearing.

Parker Law Group issued the following statement Thursday night:

“The actions of Alex Murdaugh are shocking to us all. Tonight’s verdict, which was rendered after a thorough and fair trial, brings justice and some closure to this awful matter. Maggie and Paul died tragically and for reasons we may never fully comprehend. They were much beloved, and we will forever mourn their loss.”

What charges does Alex Murdaugh still face?

As the news of the mother and son’s deaths began to be known on June 8, 2021, no one knew it would lead to multiple indictments of Alex Murdaugh and more than 100 charges and a tale that had media and true crime buffs wondering, what’s next? And even with the verdict that question remains.

Murdaugh still has 100 other charges ranging from tax evasion to drug possession, still to come even though the double homicide charges have been dealt with.

Altogether, through 19 state indictments containing charges against Murdaugh, the State Grand Jury has indicted Murdaugh for schemes to defraud victims of $8,789,447.77 and the State of South Carolina of $486,819, stated a release from the S.C. Attorney General’s Office.