06 February 2024 , 19:39
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Convicted murderer and ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh will be forced to hand over his remaining fortune to the victims of his son’s deadly boat crash.
Murdaugh has been ordered to divide his remaining $1.8 million (£1.4 million) to the 16 victims of his dead son Paul’s 2019 boat crash. Five years after the crash it was decided any victims would receive 45% of Murdaugh’s remaining assets, as reported by Post and Courier.
One 19-year-old girl, Mallory Beach died after she was thrown into the water as many of Paul’s friends also became injured as the vessel crashed into a bridge.
The case regarding then-20-year-old Paul driving the boat under the influence was underway when his father, Alex Murdaugh, then a disbarred lawyer, murdered both his wife, and Paul, in 2021. Murdaugh was subsequently found guilty of both killings and was sentenced to life in prison in 2023.
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Murdaugh has been ordered to divide his remaining $1.8 million (£1.4 million) to the 16 victims of his dead son Paul’s 2019 boat crashBeach’s family will also receive a large proportion of Murdaugh’s fortune, receiving 29 per cent of the sum having previously received a $15 million settlement from the store that sold underage Paul the alcohol he would drink on the boat. Along with four other victims of the boat crash, who were hospitalised with injuries, those subject to Murdaugh’s financial crimes will also be receiving compensation from his assets. Murdaugh’s law firm receive 14 per cent for damages.
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The remaining cash will be divided up with by 11 per cent goig to Morgan Doughty, 5 per cent to Miley Altman, 1 per cent to Manuel Santis-Cristiani, 0.8 per cent to Henry Henderson, and 0.2 per cent to Randy Drawdy, ABC affiliate WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina reported.
It comes after convicted killer Alex Murdaugh headed back to court last month, hoping to prove that jury tampering led to his of his wife and son.
Even if Murdaugh secures a new murder trial, he won't walk freeThe jurors from the trial last March will be questioned after claims from Murdaugh's lawyers that a court clerk interfered with the jury. The clerk, Becky Hill, is also set to face questions from lawyers representing the 55-year-old, who is currently serving two life sentences without parole.
Judge Jean Toal has ruled that the defence must show that potential misconduct, including alleged comments by Hill warning jurors not to trust Murdaugh when he testifies, directly influenced jurors to change their verdict from innocent to guilty.
Even if Murdaugh secures a new murder trial, he won't walk free - he's already serving a 27-year sentence for admitting to stealing $12 million (£9.5 million) from his law firm and from settlements he gained for clients on wrongful death and serious injury lawsuits.
Alex Murdaugh stands next to the witness booth during a break in his trial for murder at the Colleton County CourthouseJudge Toal has also refused to allow the defence team to call either Judge Clifton Newman, prosecutors or other court staff as witnesses.
Further limits have been placed on what can be asked of Hill, preventing lawyers from querying her on ongoing criminal investigations. These include accusations she may have profited financially from her role, emailed prosecutors for help discrediting a defence expert, worked alongside her wiretapping-charged son or copied parts of her book on the case from a journalist who accidentally sent her an email.