A highly-publicized South Carolina double-murder trial will have to repeat itself after a Wednesday state Supreme Court ruling.
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned former attorney Alex Murdaugh‘s murder convictions for the 2021 murders of his wife and son, granting his appeal in a Wednesday ruling. Judges took issue with county clerk Becky Hill’s statements to jurors that they say could have improperly swayed them toward conviction.
“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 South Carolina Supreme Court wrote.
Alex Murdaugh Retrial by Hudson Crozier
Hill allegedly made remarks to jurors such as “watch his body language” during the trial, suggesting guilt, the state Supreme Court wrote. She also testified in court that “she gave the jurors a ‘little talk,’ instructing them to pay attention and that the day was a ‘big day,’” according to the judges. “She denied attempting to influence the jury.”
Murdaugh was sentenced to two life sentences for the murders, which he still denies committing, and separately pleaded guilty to financial crimes stemming from his law firm, CNN reported. Hill also pleaded guilty in December to perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct related to the trial after leaking sealed evidence to the press, lied about it and used her work to advance her book about the case, the outlet reported.
“While we respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision, my Office will aggressively seek to retry Alex Murdaugh for the murders of Maggie and Paul as soon as possible,” Republican South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a Wednesday statement. “Let me be clear — this decision does not mean Murdaugh will be released. He will remain in prison for his financial crimes. No one is above the law and, as always, we will continue to fight for justice.”
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