Ex PSB CEO Russell Laffitte denied new trial after trying to discredit 'serial liar' Alex Murdaugh
WALTERBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA: Russell Laffitte, the former CEO of Palmetto State Bank who was convicted on six financial crimes charges related to Alex Murdaugh's corruption schemes, has been denied a second request for a new trial. Laffitte had based his request on Murdaugh's testimony during his double murder trial in Colleton County, South Carolina, where Murdaugh claimed that Laffitte was innocent.
However, South Carolina Judge Richard Mark Gergel rejected Laffitte's request, stating that Murdaugh is not a "credible witness." The judge noted that "evidence offered during the Defendant's trial established without question that Murdaugh is a serial liar and fraudster who stole from his clients and law partners," Fox News reported.
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Laffitte insists he is innocent
It is difficult to envision a witness who is less trustworthy when the judge noted that Murdaugh, 45 was found guilty of the double murder of his wife and son in 2019. Murdaugh, the disgraced attorney is accused by South Carolina prosecutors of murdering his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, in order to draw attention away from the over $9 million in accusations against him for 99 financial crimes, including theft from his family's venerable personal injury law practice and its clients.
Even though Laffitte insists he is innocent, a judge found that Laffitte assisted Murdaugh in stealing those funds. Laffitte filed a second motion for retrial in March, claiming his name was cleared during testimony in the double-murder trial of co-conspirator Alex Murdaugh. During his testimony, Murduagh admitted to a number of the financial crimes for which he is accused—many of which implicated Laffitte—and he claimed that this should be regarded as new evidence and need a new trial. The previous request for a retrial was also denied.
The initial indictment charging Laffitte did not mention Murdaugh by name but said that he collected nearly $392,000 in fees for serving as a personal representative for the six clients of a "personal injury attorney at a law firm in Hampton, South Carolina." Laffitte transferred personal loans to himself and Murdaugh from the six conservator accounts, and they used the funds for personal expenses.
Sentenced in THREE hours
The Laffitte and Murdaugh families rose to South Carolina prominence around the same time in the early 20th century when the Laffittes founded Palmetto State Bank, and the Murdaugh family began Peters Murdaugh Parker Eltzroth & Detrick – now known as The Parker Law Group. Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life last month after prosecutors found him guilty on two counts of murdering his wife and son. The Jury took only three hours to reach their decision after a five-week trial. He has since reportedly appealed his sentence.