South Carolina's highest court has overturned the double murder convictions of disgraced former lawyer Alex Murdaugh. The state's supreme court ordered a new trial regarding the June 2021 killings of his wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, at their South Carolina estate.
In a unanimous 5-0 decision, the justices ruled that Murdaugh's 2023 trial was marred by shocking jury interference and improper external influences on the jury by county clerk Becky Hill. The court stated that although they were aware of the time, money, and effort expended for the lengthy trial, they had no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh's motion for a new trial.
Murdaugh's lawyers argued that he deserved a new trial based on alleged jury tampering and prosecutorial errors during the investigation and trial. While Murdaugh has admitted to being a thief, liar, insurance cheat, and bad lawyer, he has adamantly denied killing his wife and son since finding their bodies outside their home in 2021.
Murdaugh, who comes from an influential legal family, will remain in prison as he still has decades left on sentences for financial crimes. Prosecutors have not immediately said if they plan to retry Murdaugh for the murders in light of those sentences.