The South Carolina Supreme Court has shockingly overturned the murder convictions and life sentence of disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh in the murders of his wife and youngest son. The court's ruling Wednesday morning was unanimous.
But that does not mean Murdaugh will be tasting freedom any time soon. The 57-year-old also pleaded guilty to stealing around $12 million from his clients and currently is serving a 40-year federal sentence.
Court Cites Jury Tampering
"Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh's motion for a new trial due to Hill's improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial," the justices wrote in a 5-0 vote.
The justices slammed the conduct by the court clerk who they say "egregiously attacked Murdaugh's credibility" by suggesting to jurors his testimony could not be trusted. In addition, the panel also blasted the trial judge for allowing aspects of Murdaugh's financial crimes to leak into the murder trial.
Prosecutors argued that the convictions should stand, stating that Murdaugh was convicted because the evidence against him was overwhelming and he was "obviously guilty."
Background of the Case
Murdaugh, who took the stand in his own defence, admitted he was crooked and a bad lawyer but vehemently denied shooting his wife Maggie and son Paul. He found their bodies outside their palatial home in 2021. He was the scion of a prominent South Carolina legal dynasty that controlled the local courts in their corner of the Palmetto State.
The justices ruled that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, assigned to oversee the evidence and the jury during the trial, influenced jurors to find Murdaugh guilty. Hill hoped to juice sales of a book she was writing about the case. She has since pleaded guilty to lying about what she said and did to a different judge.
Murdaugh's legal team also argued that the judge at his 2023 trial made rulings preventing a fair trial, such as allowing in evidence of Murdaugh stealing from clients—crimes unconnected to the slayings. But that information biased jurors against him, the court ruled.
His legal team offered a detailed roster of what they called the lack of physical evidence. There was no DNA or blood splatter found on Murdaugh or any of his clothes. Detectives determined that mother and son were murdered at close range with powerful weapons that have never been recovered.
The case and the history of the Murdaugh clan remains a true crime frequent flier with miniseries, best selling books and dozens of true crime podcasts.
