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Disgraced and disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh continued his quest to have another day in court this month. Convicted of murder, fraud and theft, the once untouchable scion of one of South Carolina’s most prominent legal and political dynasties is pursuing an appeal against the federal sentence imposed on him for nearly two dozen financial crimes.
Murdaugh’s notice of appeal was lodged with the U.S. fourth circuit on April 15, 2024. At a federal court hearing on April 1, 2024, judge Richard Gergel sentenced Murdaugh to forty years in prison for nearly two dozen financial crimes – and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $8.8 million. This federal sentence will run concurrent with the life imprisonment Murdaugh received in March 2023 for the murders of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and their younger son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh. Additionally, he is serving a negotiated sentence of 27 years in the S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC) as part of a plea agreement involving financial crimes prosecuted by the state.
Murdaugh’s federal plea deal nearly collapsed after government prosecutors claim he failed to fully disclose “hidden assets” while under polygraph examination. As a result, the state moved to revoke the deal – which could have led to a harsher sentence.
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Simultaneously, in the S.C. court of appeals, Murdaugh and his legal team are contesting his murder convictions and challenging a controversial decision from former S.C. chief justice Jean Toal to reject his bid for a new trial following accusations of jury tampering against former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill.
Toal’s decision denying the motion for a new trial was finalized on April 3, 2024. Consequently, the appeal of Murdaugh’s murder conviction, which had been paused awaiting Toal’s ruling, is now progressing. The appeals court issued formal notice on April 12, 2024, setting deadlines for the initial briefing and matter designation within 30 days.
In a separate case before the state appeals court, concerning Toal’s denial of a new trial motion, Murdaugh’s legal team filed a notice of appeal on April 11, 2024. This case is awaiting transcripts from the January 29, 2024 evidentiary hearing on the jury tampering allegations.
Despite filing multiple appeal notices, Murdaugh has yet to articulate any reasons for the court to overturn his various sentences.
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THE NOTICES …
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Callie Lyons is a relentless investigative journalist, researcher, and author known for exposing hard truths with heart and precision. As a journalist for FITSNews, she dives into high-profile and murky cases—like that of Mica Francis Miller— with fearless resolve and a sharp eye for detail, whether it’s tracking white-collar crime, uncovering religious abuse, or examining the often-bizarre behavior of those who believe they’re above the law.
Callie made waves with her groundbreaking 2007 book Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal, the first to reveal the dangers of forever chemicals, a story that helped inspire the film Dark Waters and influenced global scientific dialogue. Her work has appeared in numerous documentaries, including Toxic Soup, National Geographic’s Parched: Toxic Waters, and more recently Citizen Sleuth, which examines the complexities of true crime podcasting.
Whether she’s navigating environmental disasters or the darker corners of society, Lyons operates with one guiding belief: “Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
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3 comments
I don’t get it, he entered in to and agreed to a plea deal – how can he appeal it?!?
I have the same question …..
Yaaaaaaaawn.