South Carolina Supreme Court rules jury was influenced improperly during the high-profile murder trial.
Alex Murdaugh’s 2023 murder convictions have been overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which ordered a new trial in the high-profile case involving the deaths of his wife and son.
The court ruled that former Colleton County Clerk Rebecca “Becky” Hill improperly influenced jurors during the trial, denying Murdaugh a fair trial. Judges said Hill’s conduct “placed her fingers on the scales of justice” by making comments that could have affected how jurors viewed Murdaugh’s testimony.
Murdaugh, a once-powerful South Carolina attorney, was convicted in 2023 for the June 2021 killings of his wife Maggie Murdaugh and son Paul Murdaugh. Prosecutors argued he carried out the murders to distract from mounting financial crimes and public scandal.
Despite the ruling, Murdaugh will remain in prison because he is also serving lengthy state and federal sentences tied to financial fraud crimes involving millions of dollars stolen from clients.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said prosecutors will aggressively pursue a retrial as soon as possible.
The Murdaugh case gained worldwide attention through documentaries, podcasts, television coverage, and streaming adaptations centered on the powerful South Carolina legal dynasty’s dramatic downfall.