Alex Murdaugh Sues Clerk After Murder Conviction Tossed
Just days after South Carolina’s highest court wiped away his murder convictions, disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh is now turning his attention toward the court clerk accused of helping taint the jury that found him…
Just days after South Carolina’s highest court wiped away his murder convictions, disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh is now turning his attention toward the court clerk accused of helping taint the jury that found him guilty.
According to Fox News, Murdaugh filed a federal lawsuit Monday, accusing former Colleton County clerk Rebecca “Becky” Hill of violating his civil rights by allegedly manipulating jurors during his double-murder trial in an effort to boost publicity and future book sales.
The 17-page complaint was filed in federal court in Columbia and comes less than a week after the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s convictions and ordered a new trial.
“The purpose of this lawsuit is to hold Becky Hill accountable for what she did,” Murdaugh attorney Jim Griffin said during a Monday press conference. “She has not been held to account at all for her conduct.”
According to the lawsuit, Hill repeatedly made comments to jurors during the trial that encouraged them to distrust Murdaugh’s defense team and closely scrutinize his testimony.
The complaint alleges Hill warned jurors not to be “fooled,” “confused,” or “misled” by the defense and urged them to watch Murdaugh’s behavior and body language while he testified.
At least one juror later testified Hill’s remarks influenced her decision to vote guilty, according to the filing.
The lawsuit also accuses Hill of holding private conversations with the jury foreperson in secluded areas and even inside a jury room bathroom during the proceedings.