LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A pivotal hearing in Lexington County scheduled for Monday is set to outline the proceedings for Alex Murdaugh’s upcoming retrial.
The hearing will be a platform for attorneys to discuss the retrial’s schedule and deliberate over several new motions presented by the defense. These motions include requests for further DNA analysis, access to a laptop, and a plea for Murdaugh to be unshackled during court appearances.
Murdaugh was found guilty in 2023 for the murders of his wife, Margaret, and son, Paul. The crimes occurred on June 7, 2021, at their Colleton County estate, leading to his life imprisonment sentence.
The former attorney from Hampton County has consistently proclaimed his innocence in the case, expressing his desire to vindicate himself from the onset of the original murder trial.
In a significant turn of events, the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s conviction this past May. The decision was influenced by allegations of jury tampering involving Rebecca Hill, the former Colleton County Clerk of Court, which raised concerns about Murdaugh’s right to a fair trial.
The allegations prompted a series of appeals by Murdaugh’s legal team. During a January 2024 evidentiary hearing, former Chief Justice Jean Toal individually questioned jurors about whether they heard or were influenced by comments from Hill before reaching a verdict.
Toal ultimately denied Murdaugh’s request for a new trial, finding that although one juror may have felt pressure, the juror testified under oath that her verdict was her own.
Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed that decision, and the state’s high court later agreed to hear the case. On May 13, the Supreme Court granted Murdaugh a new trial.
Ahead of Monday’s hearing, the defense filed several motions, asking that Murdaugh be allowed to appear unshackled during court proceedings when media are present and be given access to a laptop to assist in his defense, citing his background as an attorney.
The defense is also seeking to move the trial out of Colleton County and the surrounding 14th Judicial Circuit, arguing that extensive media coverage, documentaries, and public discussion have made it difficult to seat an impartial jury locally.
Murdaugh is scheduled to appear before Lexington County Judge Debra McCaslin, who is expected to address pretrial matters and potential timelines for the retrial.
You can watch a live stream of Monday’s hearing in this story and on our free streaming platform, WCBD+, available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Samsung devices.