The state has fired back at Alex Murdaugh’s request for a new trial, branding the convicted murderer’s allegations of jury tampering as nonsensical and baseless. Murdaugh, serving two life sentences for the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, claims Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill improperly influenced the jury. This new update examines the prosecution’s response and the emerging details surrounding the case.
Alex Murdaugh appears in court following his conviction for the murders of his wife and son. (AP Photo/James Pollard)
Murdaugh’s legal team alleges that Hill instructed jurors to disregard Murdaugh’s testimony and certain evidence presented during the trial. These claims are central to Murdaugh’s appeal and motion for a new trial. However, in a sworn affidavit, Hill categorically denies making any such comments to the jury. Furthermore, the prosecution points out that their closing arguments included similar phrasing to what Hill is accused of saying, urging the jury to carefully scrutinize Murdaugh’s statements and demeanor.
The prosecution’s motion includes signed statements from ten jurors, all refuting Murdaugh’s claims. Each juror asserts they heard no improper comments from Hill and that their deliberations were free from outside influence. This directly contradicts Murdaugh’s allegations and strengthens the prosecution’s case against a new trial.
Courtroom sketch depicting Alex Murdaugh during his trial. (Credit: Court TV)
Murdaugh’s attorneys also highlight the dismissal of Juror 785, who requested her eggs from the jury room before leaving, as evidence of Hill’s interference. They suggest Hill fabricated a Facebook post to justify the juror’s removal. The prosecution dismisses this claim, arguing the juror’s dismissal was based on sworn affidavits from three individuals detailing the juror’s discussions about the case with her tenants, a clear violation of court instructions. They contend that Murdaugh is “projecting his own calculating manipulative psyche” onto Hill.
The affidavits reveal Juror 785 expressed doubts about Murdaugh’s guilt to her tenants, indicating a premature judgment before the conclusion of the trial. This revelation, according to the prosecution, provides sufficient grounds for dismissal and has no connection to any alleged actions by Hill.
Furthermore, when questioned by the judge, Juror 785 explicitly denied any improper communication with Hill regarding the case. This further undermines Murdaugh’s claims of jury tampering orchestrated by the Clerk of Court.
One juror reportedly told Murdaugh’s attorneys they felt pressured to convict him, but the prosecution argues this is not a legally valid reason to overturn a verdict. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigated the jury tampering allegations and found no evidence to support Murdaugh’s claims. SLED’s report notes that several jurors felt pressured by Murdaugh’s defense attorney, Dick Harpootlian, to participate in interviews.
The courtroom during the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial.
The South Carolina Court of Appeals has granted Murdaugh a temporary suspension of his murder convictions and remanded the case to the circuit court for a hearing on his motion for a new trial. Murdaugh’s legal team has requested Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the original trial, be removed from any further proceedings, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal saga.
The prosecution’s robust response, coupled with juror testimonies and the SLED investigation, casts significant doubt on Murdaugh’s allegations. The upcoming hearing will be crucial in determining the validity of his claims and the future of this high-profile case. The legal battle continues, leaving many questions unanswered and the search for justice ongoing.
