Court overturns Alex Murdaugh’s double murder conviction

The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that Alex Murdaugh receive a new trial in the murders of his wife and son, alleging that a court worker unfairly influenced the jury in the 2023 trial. Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill’s improper influence on the jury deprived Murdaugh of his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury, according to the order.

How did the clerk influence the jury? The court cited post-trial testimony from jurors who recalled the court clerk suggesting jurors watch Murdaugh’s behavior closely and not believe everything he said under oath. Hill also gave post-trial testimony and denied attempting to influence the jury. One juror recalled Hill telling the panel not to be fooled by the evidence presented by the defense, and recalled feeling pressured by other jurors to vote guilty after Hill told the jury that their deliberation shouldn’t take long. Hill made it seem that Murdaugh was already guilty, the juror recalled.

Given the evidence, the court held that Murdaugh’s right to a fair trial by an impartial jury had been violated, adding that the post-trial court erroneously denied Murdaugh’s earlier motion for a new trial.

So will Murdaugh go free until his new trial? The 57-year-old will remain in prison to serve the 40-year sentence for the nearly two dozen federal financial crimes he pleaded guilty to in September 2023. Despite pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, Murdaugh adamantly maintained his innocence of the two murders.

What are state prosecutors saying? South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson respectfully disagreed with the State Supreme Court’s ruling and planned to retry Murdaugh for the murders as soon as possible, according to a Wednesday statement.