Alex Murdaught will being going back to court after the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned his 2023 convictions for the murders of his wife and son.
The court laid the blame for their ruling solely on the shoulders of former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill for interfering with the jury in the case, WLTX reported.
“Hill, the Colleton County Clerk of Court, egregiously attacked Murdaugh’s credibility and his defense, thus triggering the presumption of prejudice, which the State was unable to rebut,” the court said. “As noted at the outset, Hill’s shocking jury interference was accomplished outside the presence and knowledge of the outstanding trial judge and superbly competent and professional counsel for the State and the defense. We are accordingly constrained to reverse the post-trial court’s denial of Murdaugh’s motion and remand for a new trial consistent with this opinion.”
The disgraced South Carolina lawyer was sentenced to two life terms for the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, crimes the defense said took place amidst a backdrop Murdaugh’s millions of dollars in financial crimes. He previously pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing $12 million from clients and is serving 40 years in prison. The new ruling has nothing to do with that case.
1038632883 South Carolina State Supreme Court Decision on Alex Murdaugh Case by kc wildmoon
Murdaugh contended that he did not kill his wife and son, but the jury — apparently — didn’t buy it. Almost immediately, his defense cited Hill’s improper comments to the jury — while the trial was still in progress — but the court previously denied a motion to vacate the conviction. The state’s high court reversed that decision.
“Both the State and Murdaugh’s defense skillfully presented their cases to the jury as the trial court deftly presented their cases to the jury as the trial court deftly presided over this complicated and high-profile matter,” the court said. “However, their efforts were in vain because Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury.”
Hill pleaded guilty late last year to charges of misconduct, perjury, and obstruction of justice and was sentenced to probation, according to The State.
“You have been humiliated throughout the whole ordeal, but of your own doing,” Judge Heath Taylor said at the time. “A lot of folks got swept up in the hoopla of that whole trial. A lot of folks probably made a lot of money, but you didn’t.”
But, the judge said, “I don’t think this conduct warrants an incarcerated sentence.”
Hill resigned from her position in early 2024.
Featured image: Alex Murdaugh/South Carolina Department of Corrections
