Court overturns Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions in deaths of wife, son

[Zorro]

Source: Washington Post

The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned the murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh and ordered a new trial for the disbarred lawyer, citing “improper external influences on the jury.”

Murdaugh was convicted in 2023 for the murders of his wife and son at their family’s home. The killings and lengthy trial captivated the public and were the subject of multiple television series.

The South Carolina high court’s five justices voted unanimously Wednesday to order a new trial, ruling that the 2023 trial was influenced by a county clerk’s comments to jurors.

“Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial due to Hill’s improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial,” the justices wrote in their decision.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/05/13/court-overturns-alex-murdaughs-murder-convictions-deaths-wife-son/

[hlthe2b]

1. Damn. I don't mind saying the evidence (reportedly presented) was OVERWHELMING...

They damned well better convict him again!

I suppose the producers of Dateline and 20/20 are salivating--another bite at THAT apple.

[Sneederbunk]

2. He deserves a new trial.

The county court clerk should be in jail.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

15. Damn straight! What a effing idiot!

[NoSheep]

17. Honest question: Could you tell me why he deserves a new trial?

I am not informed on anything except I watched a documentary a while back where he looked guilty. I dare not just ask the "web" the question because I feel the answer could be slanted.
thanks!

[Shrek]

18. County clerk influenced the jury

The high court’s five justices voted unanimously Wednesday to order a new trial, ruling that the 2023 trial was influenced by Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill’s comments to jurors.

“Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury,” the justices wrote in their decision.

In their request for a retrial, Murdaugh’s attorneys claimed Hill had tampered with the jury by telling them not to be “fooled” by the defense testimony and to “watch out” for Murdaugh’s body language. Hill resigned in 2024 and pleaded guilty in December to charges of obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a photographer sealed court exhibits and later lying about it.

[NoSheep]

19. I see, thank you

[Goonch]

3. ;-{)......

;
In this composite image is the booking photo of Alex Murdaugh (left) who was found guilty of killing his son Paul Murdaugh and his wife Maggie Murdaug

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. When you have money and political clout

You get many more chances to escape punishment than the rest if us proles.

[wolfie001]

14. Yes

They'll check every crumb and corner if you're a wealthy white guy. Total privilege. Other folks have been proven innocent, and they rot in jail by these same privileged white folk. Psychopaths. tRUMPers.

[FakeNoose]

5. So who killed his wife and son?

Is anyone in South Carolina even looking for the murderer? They all want to see Murdaugh get off, apparently. So it means someone else did the killing. Does Alex Murdaugh even care?

[Ray Bruns]

6. The good ole boy network is alive and well in South Carolina.

[COL Mustard]

10. Does OJ Simpson have an alibi?

I haven't read much about this case, but Murdaugh is a bad guy and let power and money go to his head. I imagine he'll be convicted again, and yes, the county clerk should be in jail too.

[riversedge]

7. .....Despite Wednesday's ruling, Murdaugh won't be released from prison. He also pleaded guilty to stealing about $12 mi

..................

Despite Wednesday’s ruling, Murdaugh won’t be released from prison. He also pleaded guilty to stealing about $12 million from his clients and is currently serving concurrent state and federal sentences of 27 and 40 years, respectively.


https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/article/alex-murdaughs-murder-convictions-overturned-by-south-carolina-supreme-court-161302440.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

[TheRickles]

8. 11 of the 12 jurors said the clerk's comment made no difference in their decision-making.

Only one juror said it had an impact, and that was apparently enough for this override:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/29/nation/alex-murdaugh-tries-prove-jury-tampering-led-his-murder-conviction/?p1=Article_Inline_Related_Box|

[angrychair]

9. Money talks

Rich white people in SC are pretty much above the law.

[Jacson6]

11. The gov't should sue that darn court clerk for all of the taxpayer money she has wasted.

[BillJoeBobBeauregard]

12. Hilarys emails did it

Hilarys emails escaped the cloud and did the murder i guess.

[SergeStorms]

13. Baloney!

It was Obama's tan suit, and I'll die on that hill.

Welcome to Democratic Underground.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

16. Speaking of Hill:

AP — The former court clerk in South Carolina who helped out with the murder trial of attorney Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty Monday to criminal charges for showing sealed court exhibits to a photographer and lying about it in court.
Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca “Becky” Hill pleaded guilty in Colleton County Circuit Court to four charges – obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a reporter photographs that were sealed court exhibits and then lying about it – as well as two counts of misconduct in office for taking bonuses and promoting through her public office a book she wrote on the trial.

Judge Heath Taylor sentenced Hill, 58, to three years of probation. The judge told Hill her sentence would have been much harsher if investigators had found that she had tampered with the Murdaugh jury.

Hill apologizes for her crimes

Hill read a short statement where she asked the judge for a chance to do better.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/08/us/murdaugh-killings-court-clerk

[vankuria]

20. How could they possibly find an impartial jury at this stage?

This case has been the subject of movies, documentaries, articles, newscasts etc. Finding 12 people without an opinion will not be easy.