Convicted murderer and former lawyer, Alex Murdaugh, is making a surprising move in South Carolina. He’s seeking a new trial, claiming the existence of “newly discovered evidence,” all while asserting that the court clerk tampered with the jury.
Murdaugh, who still faces charges related to financial wrongdoing within his family’s law firm and the tragic death of his former housekeeper, previously received a conviction in March for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, which occurred in 2021.
In a recent court filing, his legal team alleges that Rebecca Hill, the Clerk of Court for Colleton County, intentionally engaged in misconduct. This misconduct supposedly violated Murdaugh’s constitutional right to a fair trial by an impartial jury, all for her own financial gain. Curiously, Hill authored a book titled “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders” in July, adding an intriguing layer to the story.
The murder trial spanned six weeks, with Murdaugh taking the stand in his own defense. He was subsequently handed a life sentence, all while vehemently maintaining his innocence, firmly denying any involvement in the tragic deaths.
Now, Murdaugh’s legal team asserts that Hill went so far as to “instruct jurors not to be ‘misled’ by evidence presented in Mr. Murdaugh’s defense. According to the court filing, she cautioned jurors against being deceived by Mr. Murdaugh’s testimony in his own defense.
The new court filing includes sworn affidavits from three jurors, who are identified solely by their juror numbers. Murdaugh’s attorneys argue that Hill’s actions were driven by a desire for a book deal and media appearances, which she believed would not happen if there were a mistrial. They firmly claim that Hill betrayed her oath of office for personal gain.
Additionally, defense attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian have officially requested a federal investigation through the South Carolina U.S. attorney’s office. To shed further light on this compelling development, they will be holding a news conference later today. Stay tuned for more updates as this intriguing case unfolds!