The accused, who has pleaded not guilty, is facing trial for allegedly killing his wife and son

Former South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh is set to go on trial, accused of murdering his wife and son in 2021. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein explains what you need to know about the case. Photo Illustration: Ryan Trefes

The disbarred South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh is facing trial for the alleged murders of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul. The trial is expected to last from Jan. 23 through late February at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., a town of about 5,500. The courthouse is about 20 miles from Moselle, the hunting property where Maggie and Paul were found dead on June 7, 2021.

Mr. Murdaugh has been jailed for more than a year and faces a total of 99 felony counts, primarily related to allegedly swindling his clients out of $8.8 million. The 54-year-old Mr. Murdaugh pleaded not guilty to the murder charges and to most of the financial charges against him.

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