A settlement in the amount of many millions of dollars has been struck in connection with the terrible boat disaster that included the family of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh.
The family of Mallory Beach, who was murdered when his yacht collided with a bridge pier, will be compensated the sum of $15 million (£11.4 million) in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. Murdaugh, a former attorney who was later found guilty of murder, owned the yacht.
Officials are of the opinion that his son Paul was intoxicated behind the wheel when the tragedy took place in February of 2019. In the complaint alleging that Paul's death was unjustified, the defendants cited include both Alex Murdaugh and the convenience store that served Paul alcohol.
According to the attorneys, the last of the legal proceedings relating to the collision took place on Sunday and are now over. Anthony Cook, Morgan Doughty, Miley Altman, and Connor Cook are the other four adolescents who will each receive a portion of the additional $3 million that will be distributed.
In the beginning of this year, a jury found Alex Murdaugh guilty of the murders of his wife Margaret and their son Paul, who was 22 at the time. The trial in South Carolina that involved the well-known legal dynasty had the entire United States of America completely enthralled.
The prosecution alleged that Murdaugh had murdered them in an effort to gain sympathy for himself and to shift attention away from his financial wrongdoings. He was given a sentence of imprisonment for life.
Paul Murdaugh was facing three criminal charges relating to the boating accident at the time of his passing, one of which was death by boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Despite his contention that he was innocent, his father killed him before the case could be brought to trial.
Paul was the only survivor who did not testify that he was behind the wheel at the time of the accident. All of the other survivors did. A subsequent blood test revealed that his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was three times higher than the permissible limit. Alcohol was found on the boat, and the occupants were said to be "grossly intoxicated" according to the police report.
It is alleged that Paul used the identification card of his older brother to purchase alcohol earlier in the day from a store that was owned by Parker's Corporation. The legal counsel for the Beach family stated that the family believes this settlement will serve as a warning to all Parkers in the world. Whoever illegally sells alcohol to a juvenile, the attorney stated.
As per the statement released by Parker's, "This marks the conclusion of all of the boat crash cases." We genuinely hope that everyone involved will be able to find some form of resolution to this matter.
According to the attorney for the Beach family, the victims of the crash will also be entitled to a portion of the assets that are under the custody of the court that belong to Alex Murdaugh. However, the exact amount of this part has not yet been decided.