Our live coverage has ended. Follow the latest news here or read through the updates below.
March 2, 2023 - Alex Murdaugh found guilty in the murder of his wife and son
By Elise Hammond, Adrienne Vogt, Matt Meyer, Tori Powell and Amir Vera, CNN
Updated 0433 GMT (1233 HKT) March 3, 2023
35 Posts
Sort by
Alex Murdaugh's legal team says they will address the media after the sentencing hearing
From CNN's Dianne Gallagher
Alex Murdaugh's legal team says it will not be commenting prior to the sentencing hearing, which will take place Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
"The expectation for that press conference is for it to occur about an hour after the completion of the sentencing hearing but more specifics will be provided tomorrow morning," Murdaugh's legal team said in an email.
Following the sentencing hearing tomorrow, defense attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin will be addressing the media, according to the legal team.
"This will occur in front of the Colleton County Courthouse," the email read.
A jury Thursday found Murdaugh guilty of the murder of his wife and son. Jurors deliberated for less than three hours.
The disgraced South Carolina attorney was convicted on all four counts that he was facing — two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in the commission of a violent crime.
Attorney General Alan Wilson says Alex Murdaugh's wife and son "deserved justice"
From CNN’s Dianne Gallagher
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said a person's position and power are not above the law, and Alex Murdaugh's guilty verdict Thursday proved just that.
"It’s been a long six weeks, but Maggie and Paul Murdaugh deserved justice, and they certainly did not deserve to brutally die at the hands of someone who was supposed to love and protect them," Wilson said in a statement. "Alex Murdaugh’s house of cards, built on the foundation of lies, manipulation, and theft, came crashing down."
Buster Murdaugh seen wiping tears as guilty verdict for his father was read
From CNN’s Randi Kaye
As the verdict was read in the Colleton County courtroom for former attorney Alex Murdaugh, his only remaining son, Buster Murdaugh, could be seen wiping tears away from his eyes.
It appeared Alex Murdaugh mouthed the words "I love you," to his son as he was placed in handcuffs.
Members of the jury kept their heads down and did not look in the direction of Alex Murdaugh.
In pictures: Here's scenes from Alex Murdaugh's guilty verdict
From CNN Digital’s Photo Team
After a six-week trial, Alex Murdaugh has been found guilty of murdering his wife and son. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders, sparing him the death penalty.
Sentencing has been arranged by Judge Clifton Newman for Friday at 9:30 am.
Take a look at scenes from today's guilty verdict below:
Family of Murdaugh's late housekeeper releases statement in response to jury's verdict
From CNN’s Dianne Gallagher
Eric Bland, family attorney of the Murdaugh family's former housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, said Alex Murdaugh's "life of lies and deceit ended today" after a jury found Murdaugh guilty of the murder of his wife and son.
“Through the verdict returned by the courageous jury in Colleton County, Alex Murdaugh will drink from the same cup of justice as every other citizen and other convicted murderers," a statement from Bland read. "His power, prestige and money afforded him no special treatment. The people have spoken. Alex’s life of lies and deceit ended today. Maggie and Paul are vindicated. Justice prevails.”
Satterfield, who spent more than two decades with the Murdaugh family, died in 2018 in what was described as a “trip and fall accident," according to Bland.
After Satterfield’s death, a $500,000 wrongful death claim was filed against Alex Murdaugh on behalf of Satterfield’s estate, Bland said. In 2021, Murdaugh agreed to a $4.3 million settlement with Satterfield's family, according to Bland.
"Justice was done today:" Prosecutor Creighton Waters responds to verdict
Prosecutor Creighton Waters thanked his team during a post-verdict news conference Thursday and responded to Alex Murdaugh's conviction by thanking the jurors.
“We had no doubt that if we had a chance to present our case in a court of law, that they would see through the one last con that Alex Murdaugh was trying to pull. They did, and we’re so grateful for that," Waters said at a press conference Thursday.
Murdaugh was found guilty in the murder of his wife and son. In response to the verdict, Waters said "justice was done today."
"It doesn't matter who your family is," he said. "It doesn't matter how much money you have, or people think you have. It doesn't matter what you think, how prominent you are. If you do wrong, if you break the law, if you murder, then justice will be done in South Carolina."
No one is above the law, South Carolina AG says after Murdaugh verdict
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said he hopes the murder conviction of Alex Murdaugh proves that no one is above the law.
"Today's verdict proves that no one, no one — no matter who you are in society — is above the law," he said, speaking in Walterboro after the verdict was read.
Wilson thanked his team and said the "justice system worked tonight" by giving a voice to Paul and Maggie Murdaugh who were killed in June 2021.
Wilson said their voices came through in the evidence and testimony presented during the trial.
“Their voice was heard tonight, and justice was brought for them we can’t bring them back, but we can bring them justice,” Wilson said.
Alleged financial crime victims say guilty verdict is "bittersweet"
Justin Bamberg, a lawyer representing the alleged financial crime victims of Alex Murdaugh, said his clients have told him that Murdaugh's guilty verdict is "bittersweet" for them.
"They were happy to hear Alex admit, 'Yes, I lied and yes I stole.' But, that's not enough," Bamberg told CNN. "Every single person who's been victimized by Alex has wanted one thing: Complete accountability."
He said that "complete accountability" began with today's jury verdict, and his clients "are happy about that."
