South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman has sentenced convicted murderer and disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh to 27 years in prison for his financial crimes. This comes in addition to the two life terms Murdaugh is already serving for the 2021 murders of his wife and son. On Tuesday, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to 22 counts, including breach of trust, money laundering, forgery, and tax evasion, out of approximately 100 total counts, amounting to as much as $10 million.

During the proceedings in a Beaufort County courtroom, Murdaugh expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging the trust placed in him by numerous individuals. Prosecutor Creighton Waters explained that Murdaugh's standing as a respected member of the community, with power and influence, enabled him to commit his decade-long scheme of financial crimes by misleading and defrauding those who sought his help.

Murdaugh addressed the victims of his financial crimes, admitting the pain he caused them and expressing a desire for them to eventually find peace. He also admitted to abusing prescription medication as a means to escape the realities of his crimes. However, he denied any involvement in the murders of his wife, Maggie, and his son, Paul.

Judge Newman, who is set to retire in a month, described Murdaugh as "empty" in his closing statements. The courtroom also heard from the families of Murdaugh's late housekeeper and deceased client, who confronted him about his theft of life insurance funds and misappropriation of trust funds, respectively.

The Satterfield family accused Murdaugh of deceiving them by keeping a $4.3 million insurance settlement for himself following the death of their mother, Gloria Satterfield. Despite their grief, they forgave Murdaugh and pledged to pray for him. Similarly, Hakeem Pinckney's family confronted Murdaugh for conspiring with a former bank CEO to misappropriate over $309,000 in funds intended for Hakeem and his estate.

Murdaugh's defense attorneys have filed a motion to overturn the guilty verdict in his double-murder case, alleging jury tampering by a court clerk named Becky Hill. The motion is based on accusations that Hill attempted to influence the jury towards a conviction. Hill has denied these allegations.

The court appearance highlighted the devastating impact of Murdaugh's crimes on his victims and the community at large. Despite the pain, many of the victims and their families showcased remarkable grace and forgiveness in their statements. The sentencing of Alex Murdaugh for his financial crimes marks a significant step towards accountability for his actions, while the motion for a retrial in his murder case sets the stage for further legal proceedings.