Alex Murdoch, 54, a former lawyer from a prestigious legal family, who was accused of shooting and killing his wife and son, was found guilty at trial.
Murdoch, a former lawyer from a powerful legal family who served as chief prosecutor for three generations, was on trial for the brutal murder of his wife Margaret Murdoch, 52, and son Paul Murdoch, 22, on an estate in South Carolina.
Major media outlets including CNN reported on the 2nd (local time) that Murdoch pleaded not guilty to his murder charges at the trial, but was found guilty in just three hours.
The incident took place in June 2021, but the investigation was prolonged because there were no clear witnesses or evidence. This is because there was an absolute lack of eyewitnesses and physical evidence due to the murders that took place in vast mansions and estates. Murdoch gave an alibi, saying he was elsewhere on the day of the incident. However, he admitted to making a false statement when CCTV footage was released showing that he was nearby on the day of the incident.
Prosecutors argued that Murdoch sacrificed his family to gain sympathy after he became embroiled in a series of financial crimes and embezzlement of large sums of money from law firms and clients.
Murdoch’s defense team said in their closing argument, “Law enforcement was too quick, and he cannot be identified as the prime suspect in a murder that took place on an expansive 1,700-acre (about 6.9 square kilometers) site.” The trial in this case has been held over the past six weeks, but it took less than three hours to reach a verdict.
In addition to murder charges, Murdoch faces 99 additional charges, including drug addiction and misappropriation of funds. According to the Associated Press, Murdoch could face up to 30 years in prison to life in prison without parole for only two counts of murder.
Sentencing according to the conviction is scheduled for the morning of the 3rd.
Because Murdoch came from an influential legal family and was considered a promising lawyer, the story that he killed his family with a gun attracted attention in the United States and the world.
Murdoch’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and father served as the District Attorney for the 14th District of South Carolina for three consecutive generations from 1920 to 2006. The district is an elected post elected by the vote of the residents.
The incident became a hot topic on social media and was made into a documentary series on Netflix and HBO.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.