Alex Murdaugh trial live: Killer’s financial trial date set as he appears in court for first time since murder case

Defence attorney Debbie Barbier speaks for Fleming and disputes some of the details of Mr Waters brought up — specifically that her client did not know Murdaugh was stealing all of the money and that he has acknowledged his guilt.

She argues that no one should be punished twice for the same crime.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters wants consecutive sentencing for Fleming as independent accountability is warranted.

He argues that lawyers should not get “one-stop shopping” for victimising multiple clients over a decade, alluding to the federal sentencing.

Gloria Satterfield died in February 2018 following a mysterious trip and fall at the Murdaugh family home on their 1,700-acre Moselle estate in South Carolina.

Satterfield worked for the Murdaugh family for more than 20 years as their housekeeper.

She was found at the bottom of the steps leading into the family’s home one morning in February 2018.

She never resumed consciousness and died from her injuries three weeks later on 26 February.

At the time, Murdaugh claimed that she had tripped over the family’s dogs and hit her head, and her death was regarded as an accidental fall.

However, her death certificate cited her manner of death as “natural” and no autopsy was ever carried out.

Murdaugh claimed he would bring the wrongful death suit against himself on behalf of Satterfield’s sons.

In reality, the insurance company paid out $4m in a wrongful death settlement over Satterfield’s death. Murdaugh and Fleming then allegedly stole the money for themselves with the housekeeper’s sons not getting a dime.

“The profession we love has been stained,” said Mr Bland, who represents the Satterfield family.

“Mr Fleming knew exactly what he was doing. He is a plaintiff lawyer… it is impossible.”

Tony Satterfield – the son of Gloria Satterfield – is addressing the court.

“I still forgive Mr Fleming,” he said.

Satterfield’s sister also addressed the court and said that the family forgives Fleming.

“Gloria did not die in vain as her case brought out other corruption and dishonest misdeeds being done to others,” she said, adding that it brought corruption “to light”.

The Pinckney family were in a car wreck in 2009, leaving Pamela suffering ongoing chronic injuries and her son Hakeem paralysed. Hakeem later died from his injuries.

Following the devastating crash, Murdaugh and Fleming represented the family.

The attorneys ultimately stole around $1m by misappropriating funds from settlements.

Among the stolen money, Fleming and Murdaugh used some funds to take a private plane to the College World Series together to party.

Murdaugh set up a fake firm called Forge – supposed to imitate a legitimate company under the same name – where he and his accomplices siphoned off money from clients.

For the Satterfield family, Murdaugh and Fleming secured payouts from insurance companies Lloyd’s of London and Nautilus Insurance Company and then sent almost $4m in stolen money to the fake company.

“It was a shakedown, plain and simple,” Mr Waters said of Fleming and Murdaugh’s treatment of the Satterfield family.

Cory Fleming used some of the money he stole from a client to fly on a private plane to party, said Mr Waters.

The Pinckney family were in a car wreck in 2009. The devastating crash led to Hakeen’s death and Pamela’s ongoing injuries.

Mr Waters said that, after representing the family, it “doesn’t take [Fleming] long to steal some checks and fly on a private plane to the college World Series.”

“He bills it as a medical expense – it was a private plane to go party with Ms Pinckney’s money,” he said.