Attorneys for Richard “Alex” Murdaugh have filed a discover of enchantment after the disbarred South Carolina lawyer was sentenced to life in jail for the homicide of his spouse and son, however particulars on the authorized grounds for the enchantment will not be clear.
After a six-week trial, a jury took lower than three hours to seek out Murdaugh responsible of homicide and weapons fees within the June 2021 killings of his spouse, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and son Paul Murdaugh, 22.
Decide Clifton Newman sentenced Murdaugh to 2 consecutive life sentences with out the potential for parole. Throughout sentencing, Murdaugh denied killing his household, as he did when he took the stand in his personal protection.
Murdaugh’s lawyer, Richard Harpootlian, filed the discover within the South Carolina Courtroom of Appealson Thursday.
The courtroom doc says Murdaugh “appeals his convictions and sentences” however states no authorized grounds, case regulation or authorized argument. It was unclear when the upper courtroom will hear the enchantment.
After Murdaugh was sentenced, Harpootlian and fellow protection lawyer Jim Griffin stated the strongest grounds for enchantment are Newman’s resolution to confess proof associated to Murdaugh’s suspected monetary crimes.
Harpootlian stated that proof “stripped away” Murdaugh’s credibility. Prosecutors argued in the course of the trial that Murdaugh killed his household to realize sympathy and stop his different alleged crimes from being uncovered, however Harpootlian stated the proof that Murdaugh stole cash and lied wasn’t about motive however Murdaugh’s character.
“And we really feel strongly that if we lose in the state courts we’ll have success in federal courtroom,” Griffin stated on the time.
Murdaugh, who’s being held within the Kirkland Correctional Establishment on a 45-day analysis earlier than being completely assigned, nonetheless faces 99 different prison fees associated to alleged monetary and drug crimes that date again not less than a decade. Murdaugh can also be going through a dozen state and federal lawsuits, with different potential fits pending.
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Contact Breaking Information Reporter N’dea Yancey-Bragg at nyanceybra@gannett.com or comply with her on Twitter @NdeaYanceyBragg