Alex Murdaugh takes plea deal over financial crimes
Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh was confronted by his victims in a courtroom in South Carolina today before being sentenced to 27 years in prison on a slew of state financial crime charges.
“You seem empty, I don’t see anything,” Judge Clifton Newman told Murdaugh as he handed down the sentence. “Hopefully something will emerge in your spirit, in your soul.”
For more than a decade, Murdaugh stole over $12.5m from clients at his law firm in a vast multi-million-dollar fraud scheme.
Among the victims who spoke was the family of Gloria Satterfield, the Murdaugh’s housekeeper who died in a 2018 “trip and fall” at Moselle. In that case, Murdaugh stole more than $4m in wrongful death settlements meant for her sons.
Murdaugh spent nearly an hour apologizing to them. He admitted he did “terrible things” that “continue to bother and disturb him.”
The disgraced legal scion reached a plea deal with prosecutors on 17 November, agreeing to plead guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, fraud and criminal conspiracy.
The sentencing marks only the latest chapter in the Murdaugh saga, as he continues to fight his conviction over the June 2021 murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.
ICYMI: Sobbing Alex Murdaugh makes himself the victim at fraud trial sentencing
Sobbing Alex Murdaugh apologised to the multiple victims that he stole millions of dollars from in their hours of need during an emotional sentencing hearing – before using the floor to once again deny all responsibility for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.
What began as a statement apologising for his financial fraud crimes inside the courtroom in Beaufort County on Tuesday descended into a monologue where he hit out at the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office for their handling of the murder investigation.
It ended with Judge Clifton Newman sentencing Murdaugh to 27 years in prison.
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 21:15
Murdaugh’s defence team holds press conference following sentencing
Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian are speaking to reporters outside the courthouse in South Carolina after their client Alex Murdaugh received 27 years for his financial fraud schemes.
Mr Griffin said Murdaugh would be eligible for release when he’s 75 and a half years old,” he said as he joked that he’s already been challenged to a golf match.
“Alex is committed to getting out,” he added.
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 20:31
Alex Murdaugh gets 27 years in prison for financial crimes
The former legal scion and convicted killer was sentenced on Tuesday to 27 in prison for his financial crimes.
“You seem empty, I don’t see anything,” Judge Clifton Newman told Murdaugh.
“Hopefully something will emerge in your spirit, in your soul.”
The disgraced legal scion reached a plea deal with prosecutors on 17 November, agreeing to plead guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, fraud and criminal conspiracy.
Under the terms of the deal, prosecutor Creighton Waters asked Judge Newman to sentence Murdaugh to 27 years – to be served concurrently to his two life sentences for murder.
“I accept the negotiated sentence and the guilty plea,” Newman said.
“I take no joy at all in imposing this sentence. And you’ll have to suffer the consequences of your actions. And hopefully some good will come out of this as you go forward.”
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 20:21
Judge Newman to sentence Alex Murdaugh in financial crimes schemes
Judge Clifton Newman is now sentencing Murdaugh for his financial crimes.
Judge Newman reminded the court that he has 44 days until active retirement.
“I will turn the page and leave you behind,” he told Murdaugh.
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 20:03
WATCH: Alex Murdaugh addresses his victims at sentencing
Alex Murdaugh addresses his victims at sentencing for financial crimes
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 19:43
Court is in recess for 45 minutes
Alex Murdaugh spoke for over an hour, apologizing countless times to his financial crimes victims and to his family members – who were not in the courtroom.
He again denied the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul and apologized for the focus being on him instead of SLED focusing on their case.
“’I now ask every single person who cares about Maggie and about Paul as I know that the things that I did and that I’m pleading guilty to today allowed SLED and the AG’s office to focus on me and not to pursue the person or the people who hurt and killed Maggie and paw paw.”
He wrapped his lengthy speech stating that he is trying to be a better person.
“I’m going to do as much good as possible. And help as many people as I can while incarcerated.”
“I remain committed to finding a way to make those who love me proud of me again in some small way.”
Judge Newman has called a 45-minute recess before making his sentencing decision.
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 19:14
Murdaugh tells Satterfield family ‘there is no person more important to our family than Gloria’
Alex Murdaugh told Gloria Satterfield’s son Tony Satterfield “as hypocritical as this sounds, I love you.”
He then adds: “Gloria didn’t raise our sons, we raised our sons, but there’s no person more important to our family than Gloria was.”
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 19:03
Family of Alex Murdaugh not in courtroom for sentencing
Murdaugh spent a good portion of his statement apologizing to his family, including his surviving son Buster, but none of them were in the courtroom on Tuesday.
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 18:52
Murdaugh apologies to surviving son Buster
“Buster, I am so sorry that I let you down.”
He talks about how proud he is of Buster and the way he’s carried himself through this.
“Your whole family is proud of you. Mom is proud of you. Paw Paw is proud of you.”
“Remember that rational, reasonable people never make as much noise as haters do.”
He tells him to tune them out to stay the course.
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 18:37
Murdaugh uses apology financial victims to deny murders of Maggie and Paul
The convicted killer once again denied the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul during his statement to the court at his financial crimes hearing.
Murdaugh was speaking to his childhood friend Jordan Jinks, which became emotional, when his tone suddenly changed.
“You are absolutely right about everything you said, but you are dead wrong about one thing: I did not hurt Maggie and I did not hurt Paul.”
Andrea Cavallier28 November 2023 18:31
