Disgraced former South Carolina lawyer and convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh, already serving a life sentence, was given an additional 27 years in prison for defrauding clients and partners at his law firm on Tuesday — and the presiding judge showed no mercy as he tore into Murdaugh following his prostrate apology, reported The Daily Beast.
“It is so important to me that you know how bothered I am by the things that I did,” Murdaugh, who had pleaded guilty to the embezzlement offenses, told the court at his sentencing, apologizing to his family and to his surviving son, while bemoaning his drug addiction and continuing to deny his guilt in the murders of his wife and other son.
But Judge Clifton Newman was unmoved by Murdaugh's words.
“You seem empty; I don’t see anything,” said Newman. “Hopefully something will emerge in your spirit, in your soul. I will turn the page and leave you behind.”
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The murder trial of Murdaugh, who hailed from a powerful, wealthy family in the South Carolina Lowcountry, captivated the nation earlier this year. Prosecutors alleged that he shot his wife and son near the dog kennels on his sprawling family estate to cover up his extensive financial crimes and five-figure-a-week drug habit. He also committed a bizarre insurance fraud scheme, faking his own death to try to arrange a payout to his surviving son.
The dramatic turning point of the trial came when Murdaugh took the stand and contradicted the testimony of his family and lawyers that he had not been on the premises at the time, admitting he was in fact at the residence.
