Alex Murdaugh, disgraced lawyer, condemned to life.

(RT) ⸻ Disgraced former lawyer Alex Murdaugh has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and son. Judge Clifton Newman gave Murdaugh two life sentences at a hearing in Walterboro, South Carolina, and they will be served consecutively. The jury deliberated for less than three hours on Thursday before convicting Murdaugh, 54, of two counts of murder after a six-week trial. His lawyers have said they will appeal the sentence within 10 days.Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, were shot at close range on their family estate on 7 June 2021. Murdaugh headed a legal dynasty that for decades had occupied a powerful place in "Murdaugh Country". Judge Newman noted Murdaugh's new position on the other side of the criminal justice system and his duplicitous conduct in the courtroom. Judge Newman sentenced Paul Murdaugh to two concurrent life sentences for the murders of his wife and son. During the trial, investigators revealed how Murdaugh stole nearly $9m from clients to fund an addiction to painkillers and a lavish lifestyle. Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters argued the evidence against Murdaugh was "overwhelming" and showed him to be a "cunning, manipulative man". Murdaugh, meanwhile, restated his claim that he was not guilty and stared ahead and did not react as his sentence was read. A video filmed by Paul Murdaugh just minutes before he was shot featured the voice of his father in the background, dramatically contradicting his claim he was not there at the time. During a news conference after the sentence was handed down, Murdaugh's lawyers said they did not believe it was a mistake for him to take the stand during the trial. The high-profile case has captured national attention and sparked true crime podcasts and documentaries.