Alex Murdaugh files notice of appeal 1 week after being found guilty of murder
COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Alex Murdaugh's counsel on Thursday filed a notice of appeal.
Read More: SC Sen. Dick Harpootlian speaks about defending Murdaugh before fellow legislators
The document simply states:
Richard Alexander Murdaugh appeals his convictions and sentences in the cases referenced above. The sentences were imposed by The Honorable Clifton Newman on March 3, 2023."Read More: Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife & son
On March 3, Judge Clifton Newman handed Alex Murdaugh two consecutive life sentences in the 2021 murders of his wife and son, Maggie and Paul. A jury had found him guilty on all charges the day before.
After the sentencing, Murdaugh's defense team held a press conference and spoke to the potential of an appeal.
Anne Emerson reports on the notice of appeal. Follow Anne for daily updates related to Alex Murdaugh and ABC News 4's other investigations.
They said they planned to file a notice of intention to appeal, then a transcript needs to be obtained, and then the team would start briefing for the full appeal.
The team said they'd take it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. They feel confident in success at the federal level, attorney Jim Griffin said.
Read More: Jury finds Alex Murdaugh guilty of murdering wife and son
Griffin said grounds for the appeal lay strongly in the admission of all the financial crime evidence.
"Because he was confronted about one financial transaction ... that was being offered as motive for why he would go home and kill his son. Which we thought was illogical and ludacris," Griffin said during that press conference.
"We respect the judge's decision but we believe that was an egregious decision," Griffin continued at the time.
Read More: GRAPHIC: Bodycam footage shows crime scene where Maggie & Paul Murdaugh were murdered
Click here to read the notice in full.
Harpootlian when on to say the financial crimes should have ended with the Faris case.
Earlier this week. attorney and Senator Dick Harpootlian returned to the South Carolina State House after six weeks of defending Murdaugh.
At the South Carolina Senate meeting, Harpootlian spoke about the trial and serving as Murdaugh's defense attorney.
LISTEN: The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery | Unsolved South Carolina | Murdaugh Gets 2 Life Sentences
Harpootlian stated his intent to appeal the verdict to the South Carolina Supreme Court. He acknowledged disagreeing with Judge Clifton Newman in the trial, but spoke favorably of the legal process.
"Does (the appeal) mean I'm right?" he said. "No. There's five folks across the street that'll make that decision. And then there's federal court. The process is working."
"The Supreme Court, Court of Appeals will have a chance to look at it and maybe even federal court," Harpootlian continued. "But, that's not based on bias. (Newman) just had a different view of the law than I had."
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