A jury on Thursday convicted lawyer Alex Murdaugh of murdering his wife and younger son (Picture: AP)
A formerly prominent lawyer has been found guilty of murdering his wife and younger son.
Alex Murdaugh, 54, was convicted on all four counts by a jury on Thursday. He faced two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, in their family rural estate on June 7, 2021. He also faced two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
The jury came to a verdict after deliberating for almost three hours after hearing from more than 70 witnesses over five weeks.
Maggie and Paul were found with multiple gunshot wounds close to the dog kennels at the estate in Moselle. Alex called 911 to report their deaths.
Alex’s family stood by him in the aftermath of the murders and testified in his defense.
After the verdicts were read, Alex remained standing. He did not seem to show emotion as the verdict was read, and was silently escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs.
His older son, Buster, sat with his hand covering his mouth in the courtroom.
The verdict comes a day after the jury visited the estate.
Alex faces 30 years to life in prison for the murder charge. Prosecutors previously said they were seeking a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
His sentencing was not carried out on Thursday ‘given the lateness of the hour and the victims’ rights that must be taken into consideration’, said Judge Clifton Newman.
The court is set to reconvene at 9.30am Friday for the sentencing.
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A jury convicted formerly prominent South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh of murdering his wife and younger son.