A lawyer from South Carolina, once influential but burned, has been found guilty of murdering his wife and son to cover up economic crimes worth millions of dollars committed over several years, writes the BBC.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding 54-year-old Alex Murdo guilty of two counts of murder at the end of a six-week trial.

He faces up to 30 years in prison without parole on each count of murder.

On June 7, 2021, Maggie and Paul Murdo were shot and killed at close range outside the doghouses on the family’s property.

Alex Murdaugh stoically listened to the decision Thursday night in Walterboro.

“The evidence of guilt is overwhelming,” South Carolina Judge Clifton Newman said in denying the defense’s motion for a mistrial. The verdict is scheduled for Friday morning.

Murdo walked away innocent

Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife and their young son in an attempt to cover up economic crimes committed over several years, frauds he himself admitted to in court.

After the 12-member jury delivered its verdict, dozens of people gathered outside the courthouse where Murdo was led away in handcuffs.

The case — a chronicle of the downfall of a family accustomed to power and privilege — made headlines, inspiring documentaries on Netflix and HBO.

The lawyer has been stealing for years

Murdo was once an influential personal injury attorney in the state, and for decades, until 2006, members of his family served as district attorneys.

During the trial it was revealed that he had robbed his partners and clients for years to support his drug addiction and extravagant lifestyle.

Murdo has not been arrested more than a year after he killed his family, and investigators have a complicated case.

Murdo testified in court trying to convince jurors that someone enraged by a 2019 boating accident involving Paul could have killed his son out of revenge.

The case against him was based entirely on circumstantial evidence, with no murder weapon, bloodstains on his clothing, or any eyewitnesses presented.

Dossier based on footage taken before the murder

Instead, prosecutors focused on a Snapchat video made by Murdo’s son just before the murder.

Paul, 22, and his 52-year-old mother were killed in dog kennels on the family’s large hunting estate known as Moselle.

Over the course of 20 months, Alex Murdo repeatedly told investigators that he was not at the dog kennel that night and that he was at home sleeping. But in the video, his voice can be heard in the background.

In court, Murdo admitted he lied when he claimed his addiction to painkillers made him paranoid.

He tried to fake his death

His bizarre attempt to fake his death to protect himself, just three months after the crimes, was also presented in court.

Investigators say he stole millions of dollars from clients and colleagues, including $3.7 million in 2019 alone. During the trial, Murdo confessed to the theft.

Prosecutors argued that these crimes led him to commit murder, that he believed the deaths of his wife and son would elicit sympathy from him and prevent speculation about his actions.

Alex Murdo and his sons were engaged in hunting, and Moselle had a collection of weapons.

No weapons were found

Prosecutors say Murdo used one of those guns to kill Maggie and the other to kill his son. No weapons were found.

Maggie was shot four or five times with a rifle and their son twice with a pistol. (news.ro)