South Carolina Supreme Court tosses Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions
The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the murder convictions and life sentence of disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh in the shooting deaths of his wife and younger son.
In a unanimous ruling, the justices said the conduct by the court clerk “egregiously attacked Murdaugh’s credibility” by suggesting to jurors his testimony could not be trusted. They also said the trial judge went too far in allowing evidence of Murdaugh’s financial crimes into his murder trial.
But Murdaugh won’t be getting out of prison. The 57-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing around $12 million from his clients and currently is serving a 40-year federal sentence.
Still, the state Supreme Court ruling is a win for Murdaugh, who admits to being a thief, liar, insurance cheat and bad lawyer, but has adamantly denied killing his wife Maggie and younger son Paul since he found their bodies outside their home in 2021.
The justices ruled Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, assigned to oversee the evidence and the jury during the trial, influenced jurors to find Murdaugh guilty. She hoped to improve sales of a book she was writing about the case. She has since pleaded guilty to lying about what she said and did to a different judge.
Related Posts
More in US News
Top Stories
Trump’s Iran strategy faces its hardest test as Tehran refuses to bend
Jeff Foxworthy stand-up special ‘The Joke’s On Me’ premieres June 1
Trump targets Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s record-spending primary
NFL owners unanimously vote to bring Super Bowl LXIV to Nashville’s new $2 billion stadium in 2030
CENTCOM commander calls Rep. Moulton’s Iran war remark ‘inappropriate’
Blanche said he won’t recommend a Maxwell pardon. Trump could still grant one.
Hegseth shrugs off ethical limits, hits the campaign trail to slam Trump target
Judge blocks ICE courthouse arrests after government admits false claims
Democrats slam Trump over ‘dangerous and indefensible gift to Vladimir Putin’