Murdaugh's Appeal for New Trial Advances Amid Controversy

More than a year after disbarred lawyer Richard “Alex” Murdaugh was convicted on several charges, including the murders of his wife and adult son, the appeal process for a new double murder trial is moving forward much sooner than the traditional chamber process with no oral arguments. Richard “Alex” Murdaugh has repeatedly claimed “he never had anything to do with the deaths of Margaret and Paul Murdaugh”. Apparently the request follows the lower courts’ dismissal of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial, filed after allegations of jury tampering against Colleton County clerk of Court Rebecca Hill.

According to media reports, Hill resigned and numerous ethics complaints had been filed against her, claiming Hill used her position to manipulate the jury’s perception of Murdaugh. The case of whether the clerk’s office did jury tampering is reported to be part of the appeal after Murdaugh’s initial request for a new trial was dismissed some months ago, when the lower court ruled the issue arose for the first time. The appeal is already before the state highest court; otherwise, it indicates how controversial the chambers proceedings may be and what the potential legal resolution implications are.