Almost three years into his life sentence without parole for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, Alex Murdaugh is set to have his appeal heard by the South Carolina Supreme Court. The disgraced former attorney, who has been at the center of a media storm, continues to fight his convictions, alleging jury tampering during his six-week trial.
Murdaugh’s legal team contends that the clerk of court in Colleton County, Becky Hill, improperly influenced the jury, urging them not to trust Murdaugh’s testimony and pressuring them to reach a quick verdict. These allegations have led to a significant appeal, with Murdaugh’s attorneys arguing that this misconduct tainted the trial. Hill has since resigned amid an ethics investigation, adding further fuel to the defense’s claims.
Judge Jean Toal, a retired Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court, has been assigned to oversee the appeal. The defense points to a federal case precedent suggesting that it’s enough to show the potential for juror influence, rather than proving a juror actually changed their mind. This sets the stage for a legal showdown, as the South Carolina Supreme Court’s one-paragraph order on Tuesday allows Murdaugh’s lawyers 30 days to file their arguments, though a hearing date has yet to be set.
Parallel to his state appeal, Murdaugh is also challenging a 40-year federal sentence handed down for stealing nearly $11 million from clients and his law firm. His defense argues that the sentence, which exceeds the recommended 22 years, violates the U.S. Constitution’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Judge Richard Gergel, who presided over the federal case, justified the harsher sentence by highlighting the severe betrayal of trust Murdaugh inflicted on his vulnerable clients, including a quadriplegic accident victim and a state trooper injured in the line of duty.
Federal prosecutors have countered the appeal by pointing out that Murdaugh agreed not to contest the sentence as part of his guilty plea unless there was evidence of prosecutorial misconduct or inadequate defense. They argue that Murdaugh’s case does not meet the criteria for overturning the sentence, citing the rarity of such reversals in U.S. courts.
Murdaugh’s legal troubles began to unravel in 2021 when he was accused of murdering his wife and son at their Colleton County home. Prosecutors allege that Murdaugh’s addiction to opioids and his desperate attempts to cover up his financial crimes led him to commit the murders. The prosecution’s case was bolstered by a video from Paul’s phone, placing Murdaugh at the scene just minutes before the killings, despite his initial claims that he hadn’t seen his family for an hour prior.
Throughout the trial, Murdaugh maintained his innocence, admitting to lying to investigators about his whereabouts but vehemently denying any involvement in the murders. The defense argued that the inclusion of Murdaugh’s financial crimes in the trial was prejudicial, causing the jury to focus on his character rather than the specific evidence of the murders.
Murdaugh’s case continues to captivate the public and true crime enthusiasts, with his trial setting records for viewership on platforms like CourtTV. Despite the convictions, Murdaugh, now 56, remains determined to fight his legal battles, having reportedly paid his attorneys $600,000 at the outset of his troubles. The upcoming appeals in both state and federal courts will be closely watched, as Murdaugh seeks to overturn the verdicts that have left him behind bars for life.
The outcome of these appeals could have far-reaching implications, not only for Murdaugh but also for the legal precedents surrounding jury conduct and sentencing guidelines. As the South Carolina Supreme Court prepares to review his case, the legal saga of Alex Murdaugh shows no signs of concluding anytime soon.
