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Trial Of Alex Murdaugh
''State of South Carolina v. Richard Alexander Murdaugh'' was the trial of American former lawyer Alex Murdaugh for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, on June 7, 2021. The trial in the fourteenth circuit of the South Carolina Circuit Court began on January 25, 2023, and ended on March 2 with a guilty verdict on all four counts. Murdaugh, who had pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to two life sentences to run consecutively without the possibility of parole. Murdaugh's attorneys have filed a notice of appeal. Local media called the trial South Carolina's "trial of the century" and "arguably one of the most high-profile and sensational cases in South Carolina legal history". Background, murders, and investigation Alex is a member of the Murdaugh family, a locally-prominent family of attorneys. During this time, Maggie had consulted a divorce lawyer in Charleston to discuss ending her marriage. Paul Murdaugh had been under indictment and facing t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Murder In United States Law
In the United States, the law for murder varies by jurisdiction. In many US jurisdictions there is a hierarchy of acts, known collectively as homicide, of which first-degree murder and felony murder are the most serious, followed by second-degree murder and, in a few states, third-degree murder, followed by voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter which are not as serious, followed by reckless homicide and negligent homicide which are the least serious, and ending finally in justifiable homicide, which is not a crime. However, because there are at least 52 relevant jurisdictions, each with its own criminal code, this is a considerable simplification. Sentencing also varies widely depending upon the specific murder charge. "Life imprisonment" is a common penalty for first-degree murder, but its meaning varies widely. Capital punishment is a legal sentence in 27 states, and in the federal civilian and military legal systems, though 8 of these states and the federal gove ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dementia
Dementia is a disorder which manifests as a set of related symptoms, which usually surfaces when the brain is damaged by injury or disease. The symptoms involve progressive impairments in memory, thinking, and behavior, which negatively affects a person's ability to function and carry out everyday activities. Aside from memory impairment and a disruption in thought patterns, the most common symptoms include emotional problems, difficulties with language, and decreased motivation. The symptoms may be described as occurring in a continuum over several stages. Consciousness is not affected. Dementia ultimately has a significant effect on the individual, caregivers, and on social relationships in general. A diagnosis of dementia requires the observation of a change from a person's usual mental functioning, and a greater cognitive decline than what is caused by normal aging. Several diseases and injuries to the brain, such as a stroke, can give rise to dementia. However, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The State (newspaper)
''The State'' is an American daily newspaper published in Columbia, South Carolina. The newspaper is owned and distributed by The McClatchy Company in the Midlands region of the state. It is, by circulation, the second-largest newspaper in South Carolina after ''The Post and Courier''. History The newspaper, first published on February 18, 1891. was founded by two brothers, N.G. Gonzales and A.E. Gonzales.TheState.com Web page titled "About The State" at ''The State'' Web site, accessed April 6, 2007 In 1903, N. G. Gonzales was fatally shot by lieutenant governor James H. Tillman, who was later acquitted of murder charge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
In Camera
''In camera'' (; Latin: "in a chamber"). is a legal term that means ''in private''. The same meaning is sometimes expressed in the English equivalent: ''in chambers''. Generally, ''in-camera'' describes court cases, parts of it, or process where the public and press are not allowed to observe the procedure or process.. ''In-camera'' is the opposite of trial in open court where all parties and witnesses testify in a public courtroom, and attorneys publicly present their arguments to the trier of fact. ''In camera'' hearings during trials Entire cases may be heard ''in-camera'' when, for example, matters of national security are involved. ''In-camera'' review by a judge may be used during otherwise open trials—for example, to protect trade secrets or where one party asserts privilege (such as attorney–client privileged communications). This lets the judge review documents in private to determine if revelation of documents in open court will be allowed. In United States ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Attorney General Of South Carolina
The Attorney General of South Carolina is the state's chief legal officer and prosecutor. History Alexander Moultrie, half-brother of Revolutionary War figure and future governor William Moultrie, was named the state's first Attorney General under its first state "President", John Rutledge, in 1776. Rutledge had been provincial Attorney General himself for 10 months before independence. Moultrie was impeached and resigned in 1792 for diverting state funds into the Yazoo land company fraud. After the 1876 South Carolina gubernatorial election, the state was left with a contested election and a dual government, from the election in November through April 1877. Republican Robert B. Elliott served briefly in this situation under Republican governor Daniel Henry Chamberlain, while James Conner held office under fellow Confederate officer and Democrat Wade Hampton III. Hampton and Conner prevailed. His Majesty's attorneys-general of South Carolina The colonial province of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walterboro, South Carolina
Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The city's population was 5,398 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Colleton County. Walterboro is located west of Charleston and is located near the ACE Basin region in the South Carolina Lowcountry. It is known as ''"The Front Porch of the Lowcountry"''. History Walterboro (original spelling: "''Walterborough''") was founded in 1783, as a summer retreat for local planters looking to escape their malaria-ridden, Lowcountry plantations. The original settlement was located on a hilly area, covered with pine and hickory trees and named "''Hickory Valley''". Two of the earliest settlers were brothers, Paul and Jacob Walter. The brothers were prosperous, plantation owners, in nearby Jacksonboro. Paul's small daughter Mary, was taken ill with malaria; a common disease amongst the families who had plantations in the marshy areas of the Lowcountry, due to the grounds suitability for rice production. To ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Colleton County Courthouse
The Colleton County Courthouse was built in 1820. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The building is located corner of Jeffries and Hampton Streets in Walterboro, South Carolina. The building was put on the register as an example of Greek Revival architecture and also due to its historical significance, since the first meeting on nullification was held in the building in 1828. History In 1817, Walterboro became the seat of Colleton County. The design of the courthouse is attributed to the architect Robert Mills. The building was completed in 1820 by Charleston contractors, J. & B. Lucas. In June 1828, Robert Rhett, participating in the first meeting on nullification, which was held in the courthouse building, delivered a speech which urged John Taylor, the governor of South Carolina, to immediately convene a session of the state legislature. Another nullification meeting was held in October of the same year. In 2023, the courthouse was the venue ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspapers and broadcasters. The AP has earned 56 Pulitzer Prizes, including 34 for photography, since the award was established in 1917. It is also known for publishing the widely used '' AP Stylebook''. By 2016, news collected by the AP was published and republished by more than 1,300 newspapers and broadcasters, English, Spanish, and Arabic. The AP operates 248 news bureaus in 99 countries. It also operates the AP Radio Network, which provides newscasts twice hourly for broadcast and satellite radio and television stations. Many newspapers and broadcasters outside the United States are AP subscribers, paying a fee to use AP material without being contributing members of the cooperative. As part of their cooperative agreement with the AP, most ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Capital Punishment In South Carolina
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Between 1718 and 2021, more than 680 people have been executed in South Carolina. After a nationwide capital punishment ban was overturned in 1976, South Carolina has executed 43 people. Since 2011, no one has been executed in the state due to pharmaceutical companies not wanting to sell the drugs needed for lethal injections. Lethal injection has been the legalized primary form of execution since 1995. Under the passage of Act 43 of 2021, executions are expected to resume with the electric chair as the primary form of execution. In March 2022, the South Carolina Department of Corrections announced they were ready to carry out executions by firing squad. Inmates will now have the choice to be executed via electrocution or firing squad; with electrocution being the primary method. Legal process When the prosecution seeks the death penalty, sentence is not passed by the judge. The sentence is decided by the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Life Imprisonment In The United States
In the United States, life imprisonment is amongst the most severe punishments provided by law, depending on the state, and second only to the death penalty. According to a 2013 study, 1 of every 20,000 inhabitants of the U.S. were imprisoned for life . Many U.S. states can release a convict on parole after a decade or more has passed, but in California, people sentenced to life imprisonment can normally apply for parole after seven years. The laws in the United States categorize life sentences as "determinate life sentences" or "indeterminate life sentences," the latter indicating the possibility of an abridged sentence, usually through the process of parole. For example, sentences of "15 years to life," "25 years to life," or "life with mercy" are called "indeterminate life sentences", while a sentence of "life without the possibility of parole" or "life without mercy" is called a "determinate life sentence". The potential for parole is not assured but discretionary, making it an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dick Harpootlian
Richard A. Harpootlian (born January 23, 1949) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 20th district. He served as the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2013. As a member of the South Carolina Senate, Harpootlian has been a frequent critic of the state's budgetary practices. He is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Early life and education Harpootlian is of Armenian descent; his grandparents immigrated to the United States after fleeing their hometown of Harpoot in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian genocide. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Career Legal work Harpootlian's law firm has represented neighborhoods near Five Points in Columbia, a popular weekend location for college students, in protestations against liquor licenses in the area. Several bars i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Person Of Interest
"Person of interest" is a term used by law enforcement in the United States, Canada, and other countries when identifying someone possibly involved in a criminal investigation who has not been arrested or formally accused of a crime. It has no legal meaning, but refers to someone in whom the police are "interested", either because the person is cooperating with the investigation, may have information that would assist the investigation, or possesses certain characteristics that merit further attention. While terms such as '' suspect'', ''target'', and ''material witness'' have clear and sometimes formal definitions, ''person of interest'' remains undefined by the U.S. Department of Justice. ''Unsub'' is a similar term which is short for "unknown subject" (used in the TV show ''Criminal Minds''). ''Person of interest'' is usually used as a euphemism for '' suspect'', and its careless use may encourage trials by media. With respect to terrorism investigations, Eric Lichtblau wrote ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
