Alex Murdaugh trial latest: Prosecution finds ‘significant disputes’ in convicted murderer’s jury tampering claims

“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.”

Eric Bland, attorney for the Satterfields tells the judge that he will hear how good a guy Fleming is and notes that good guys sometimes commit crimes. He says the judge must sentence the crime as well as the man as the law profession has been stained by his action.

“I’ve been suing other lawyers for 30 years. Never seen a case where the lawyers took every single dollar. But that’s what Fleming and Murdaugh did. Every single dollar.”

Mr Bland goes over a number of other examples of violations and irregularities in how Fleming handled and filed the Satterfield case to show the depth of the conspiracy and the criminal behaviour.

He says Fleming and Murdaugh sat on the $4.3m settlements knowing that Gloria Satterfield’s son Brian, a vulnerable adult, was being put out on the street because his mom’s trailer was being foreclosed on.

Mr Bland calls it “blatant thievery”.

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.

After Mr Bland wraps up, Justin Bamberg addresses the court. He is the attorney for Pamela Pinckney, the mother of Hakeem Pinckney (see below) who was left quadriplegic after a crash, and niece Natasha Thomas who lost vision and suffered extensive injuries. Mrs Pinckney was also horribly injured and is still dealing with her own injuries.

Fleming was indicted and pleaded guilty in federal court for the Satterfield case but not for the Pinckney case due to the statute of limitations. There has been no punishment or accountability in the Pinckney case so far.

Mr Bamberg gives powerful testimony about the true long-lasting impact of Fleming’s crimes. Believes Fleming is regretful but not remorseful. He asks for stiff punishment for both the Satterfield and Pinckney crimes.

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.

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.

The court breaks for lunch.

Fleming will address the court and others will speak on his behalf when court resumes at 2.45pm

Court is back in session with Judge Newman back on the bench.

He will now hear character references from friends and family of Fleming and then a statement from him.