Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole, for the murders of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and his son Paul Murdaugh.

During the sentencing, Judge Clifton Newman said that Alex Murdaugh’s trial was “one of the most troubling cases” for him as a judge.

“It is also particularly troubling, Mr. Murdaugh, because as a member of the legal community … we have seen each other at various occasions throughout the years,” Newman said. “And it was especially heartbreaking for me to see you go, in the media, as a grieving father who lost a wife and son to being the person indicted and convicted of killing them.”

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He added, “You have engaged in duplicitous conduct here in the courtroom, here on the witness stand, and as established by the testimony, throughout the time leading from the time of the indictment and prior to the time of the indictment to this point in time.”

Jurors reached the guilty verdict after less than three hours of deliberations in a six-week trial.

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In a dramatic sentencing hearing, Newman speaking directly to Murdaugh said: “You have to see Paul and Maggie at night time when you are attempting to go to sleep. I am sure they come and visit you,” he said.

In his last statement before the sentencing, Murdaugh said: “I’m innocent. I would never hurt my wife Maggie. And I would never hurt my son Paw Paw.”