An attorney who said he was Alex Murdaugh's best friend testified at his murder trial Thursday that Murdaugh admitted he had a drug addiction and had been stealing money from his law firm and clients.
"He said, 'I'm sorry I've had a drug problem, I'm addicted to opioids ... for something like 20 years,' " the friend, Chris Wilson, testified. "He said he had a drug addiction and he admitted that he had been stealing money from his law firm and from clients."The conversation occurred in September 2021, three months after the deaths of Murdaugh's wife and son and after Murdaugh's law firm said it had discovered extensive financial wrongdoing.
Wilson is one of a series of witnesses who have accused Murdaugh of extensive financial wrongdoing at his namesake law firm. Prosecutors have argued Murdaugh killed his wife and son as an attempt to distract attention from his financial crimes and stave off a "day of reckoning." He and Murdaugh had worked on a personal injury case together and won a verdict of $5.5 million, with each attorney earning about $792,000. Murdaugh asked Wilson to write the check to him personally rather than his law firm, and Wilson did as requested.Murdaugh later asked Wilson to rewrite the check and make it out to the law firm, he testified.
Also in court Thursday, Michael "Tony" Satterfield, the son of Murdaugh's former housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, testified about being defrauded by Murdaugh. Satterfield testified that he learned of the settlement from his family, who heard about it through media reports. He said when he asked Murdaugh about it in June 2021, Murdaugh told him "it was still making progress" and to be ready to settle by the end of the year.
Much of the testimony this week has focused on Murdaugh's financial issues. The judge overseeing the case ruled on Monday to allow such evidence, saying it was "so intimately connected" with the state's case "that proof of it is essential to complete the story."
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Heavy rain, strong winds in store for Toronto on Thursday, weather agency says | CBC NewsStrong winds and heavy rain are possible for Toronto on Thursday after a warm up that saw temperatures swing from the negative double digits to spring-like plusses.
Read more »
Significant snowfall possible Thursday into FridaySnowfall accumulations of 10 to 15 cm will be possible, Environment Canada says
Read more »
Environment Canada warns of heavy rain, possible freezing rain and strong winds in Durham ThursdayDurham is under a special weather statement. Environment Canada is warning of freezing rain in northern Durham Thursday morning, most likely in areas over hi
Read more »
Freezing rain may be part of 'wintry mix' for ThursdayFreezing rain featuring a few millimetres of ice buildup may be part of a “wintry mix” of precipitation starting Thursday afternoon.
Read more »
FORECAST: Freezing rain may be part of 'wintry mix' for ThursdayFreezing rain featuring a few millimetres of ice buildup may be part of a “wintry mix” of precipitation starting Thursday afternoon.
Read more »