Alex Murdaugh tries to overturn conviction for killing wife and son
Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh is heading back to court, hoping to prove that jury tampering led to his guilty verdict for the murder of his wife and son.
The jurors from the trial last March will be questioned after claims from Murdaugh's lawyers that a court clerk interfered with the jury.
The clerk, Becky Hill, is also set to face questions from lawyers representing the 55-year-old, who is currently serving two life sentences without parole.
Judge Jean Toal has ruled that the defence must show that potential misconduct, including alleged comments by Hill warning jurors not to trust Murdaugh when he testifies, directly influenced jurors to change their verdict from innocent to guilty.
Even if Murdaugh secures a new murder trial, he won't walk free - he's already serving a 27-year sentence for admitting to stealing $12million from his law firm and from settlements he gained for clients on wrongful death and serious injury lawsuits.
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Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife Maggie and son PaulJudge Toal's pretrial ruling was a setback for the defence, who have criticised the high standard they need to meet to win their case.
The defence argued that if they can prove the jury was tampered with, it shouldn't matter whether a juror openly said their verdict changed, because the influence can be subtle and still prevent Murdaugh from getting a fair trial.
The statement read: "According to the State, if Ms. Hill had the jury room decorated like a grade-school classroom with colourful signs saying 'Murdaugh is guilty', that wouldn't violate Mr Murdaugh's right to a fair trial... so long as jurors didn't testify that they voted guilty because of the decour."
The story of Murdaugh's fall from power captivated many (Facebook)Judge Toal has also refused to allow the defence team to call either Judge Clifton Newman, prosecutors or other court staff as witnesses.
Further limits have been placed on what can be asked of Hill, preventing lawyers from querying her on ongoing criminal investigations. These include accusations she may have profited financially from her role, emailed prosecutors for help discrediting a defence expert, worked alongside her wiretapping-charged son or copied parts of her book on the case from a BBC journalist who accidentally sent her an email.
Toal expressed his hesitation, stating: "I'm very, very reluctant to turn this hearing about juror contact into a wholesale exploration about every piece of conduct by the clerk."
Murdaugh's mugshot (South Carolina Department of Cor/UPI/REX/Shutterstock)
Murdaugh has always denied killing his familyHill denies any allegations of jury tampering in an under-oath statement.
Murdaugh, who will attend the hearing in prison uniform, is unlikely to walk free even if a new murder trial is granted.
He is also serving 27 years after admitting he stole from his law firm and from settlements he gained for clients on wrongful death and serious injury lawsuits - a sentence he promised not to appeal as part of a plea deal.
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But Murdaugh has remained adamant that he did not kill his son Paul with a shotgun and his wife Maggie with a rifle.
He told deputies he found their bodies at their Colleton County home in June 2021 after returning from seeing his parents nearby.
The jurors, their anonymity protected, will be allowed to enter the Richland County Courthouse through a private entrance.
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