US lawyer Alex Murdaugh found guilty of murdering wife and son

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( March 03, 2023 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Alex Murdaugh freezes as guilty verdict threatens life sentence for murders]( Shamed legal dynasty heir Alex Murdaugh has been found guilty of the brutal murders of his wife and adult son. The 54-year-old disbarred attorney was convicted of two counts of murder and two weapons charges after a dramatic six-week “trial of the century” inside the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina. He faces up to life in prison on the charges. Murdaugh appeared emotionless as the guilty verdicts were read out to deafeningly silent court, as his and Maggie’s only surviving son Buster, 26, looked on from the gallery. Buster – who has stood by his father throughout the trial and testified in his defence – also gave little reaction at the moment that his father was convicted of killing his mother and brother in a horrific attack on the family estate.   2 / [Tory fury as Partygate investigator Sue Gray made Keir Starmer’s chief of staff]( Labour leader ‘delighted’ – but Tories cry ‘stitch up’ as top civil servant who led inquiry quits government 3 / [Constance Marten and Mark Gordon charged with gross negligence manslaughter of baby]( Heiress and boyfriend also charged with concealing birth after baby was found in woodland on Wednesday 4 / [Matt Hancock wanted to ‘get heavy with police’ to enforce lockdown, say leaked messages]( ‘Plod got their marching orders’, said then-health secretary after meeting with Boris Johnson and officers 5 / [Boris breaks silence on Brexit and questions Sunak deal – but concedes PM has ‘momentum’]( Former PM says he will find it ‘very difficult’ to vote for Windsor deal struck by Sunak   The Big Question ‘Who is Sue Gray? The Partygate investigator handed top Labour job [Sue Gray](, the investigator of lockdown-busting parties in Boris Johnson’s government, [is set to join Labour]( as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. The Whitehall veteran quit the [Cabinet Office]( to take on the party political job, prompting criticism by some Tory [MPs](, who said it throws civil service impartiality into question. Thrust into the limelight when she took over the probe into coronavirus rule-breaking at No 10 in 2021, Ms Gray went from an influential but little-known arbiter of conduct in government to a household name within months. She stepped in to lead the investigation after cabinet secretary [Simon Case]( – her boss – recused himself following allegations that his own office held a Christmas event amid a lockdown. “Waiting for Sue Gray” became a well-known refrain as the nation braced itself for her highly-anticipated report. An initial dossier, published in January 2022, included several strong criticisms of Downing Street’s drinking culture, but was short on details about the parties as it was hampered by an investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police. [For the full story click here >](   Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our [welcome offer when you join today](. Watch/ [The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 16 – After sharing a cosmic ‘kiss’ on Wednesday night, [Jupiter]( and [Venus](once again appeared close together in the night’s sky on Thursday. The conjunction, which was visible to the naked eye, is the closest that the two planets will come for viewers from Earth until 2039, 16 years away. [Read more here](   QUOTE OF THE DAY “I am profoundly sorry that MI5 did not prevent the attack.” – The head of [MI5 Ken McCallum]( has said he is “profoundly sorry” for the failure of the Security Service to stop the [Manchester Arena]( bombing, after a damning inquiry found it had failed to act on key information. [Read more here]( Turkey and Syria earthquake appeal £35,717 – The Independent is appealing for help in [raising urgently needed funds]( following the deadliest earthquake to hit [Turkey]( and [Syria]( in almost a century. We will update the running total here each day. [Read more here]( [Donate here](     Other stories you might like   [‘Reckless’ drone pilot who endangered historic plane sentenced in UK-first](   [Met Office confirms when snow will fall as ‘Beast from the East’ blizzard heads for UK](   [Pedestrian who swore at cyclist on pavement before she was hit by car is jailed for manslaughter](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers Sean O'Grady - [Will Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal revive his poll ratings?](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report]( The Race Report Fortnightly, 6pm (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Join now]( [The View from Westminster ]( The View from Westminster Every weekday, 6pm (UK time) Written by John Rentoul [Join now](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.