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August 15, 2024
SOUTH CAROLINA: In a surprising turn of events, the South Carolina Supreme Court has agreed to hear Alex Murdaugh's jury tampering appeal, potentially paving the way for a new trial. The decision comes after a judge denied Murdaugh a new trial earlier this year, despite allegations of jury tampering by Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill.
Murdaugh's attorneys, Richard Harpootlian and James Griffin filed a motion in July asking the high court to review the appeal, citing significant public interest and a legal principle of major importance. The court's decision to hear the appeal allows the case to bypass the Court of Appeals and head straight to the High Court.
Murdaugh was found guilty in March 2023 of the 2021 murders of his wife, Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, and his youngest son, Paul Murdaugh. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before delivering the guilty verdicts, and Murdaugh was subsequently sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison.
However, Murdaugh's defense team claims that Hill's actions during the trial influenced the jury's decision. They allege that Hill repeatedly referenced Murdaugh in ways that made him appear guilty, removed a juror she wasn't confident would turn in a guilty verdict, and pressured the jurors to reach a quick verdict.
One juror, identified only as Juror Z, testified that Hill's comments influenced her decision to convict Murdaugh and made it seem like he was already guilty. However, the other 11 jurors denied that Hill's comments had any impact on their decision.
Despite the allegations, now-retired Chief Justice Jean Toal denied Murdaugh's motion for a new trial in January, stating that the defense needed to show that Hill's comments had an improper influence on the jury. Toal found that while Hill was not completely credible and was lured by celebrity, the jurors were not influenced by her comments.
Hill has since resigned as clerk of court and is under state investigation for her alleged interactions with the jury and using her position for personal gain.
The South Carolina Supreme Court's decision to hear Murdaugh's appeal raises questions about the fairness of his trial and whether Hill's actions had an undue influence on the jury's decision. If the court finds Murdaugh's favor, it could lead to a new trial and re-examining the evidence in the case.
Murdaugh is currently serving his sentence in federal prison, where he is also facing charges for multiple fraud schemes to steal from his clients. His federal sentence is concurrent with his state prison time.
