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Zorro

(18,852 posts)
Wed May 13, 2026, 11:33 AM Yesterday

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

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/

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Court overturns Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions in deaths of wife, son (Original Post) Zorro Yesterday OP
Damn. I don't mind saying the evidence (reportedly presented) was OVERWHELMING... hlthe2b Yesterday #1
He deserves a new trial. Sneederbunk Yesterday #2
Damn straight! What a effing idiot! Floyd R. Turbo 23 hrs ago #15
Honest question: Could you tell me why he deserves a new trial? NoSheep 22 hrs ago #17
County clerk influenced the jury Shrek 22 hrs ago #18
I see, thank you NoSheep 22 hrs ago #19
;-{)...... Goonch Yesterday #3
When you have money and political clout Miguelito Loveless Yesterday #4
Yes wolfie001 23 hrs ago #14
So who killed his wife and son? FakeNoose Yesterday #5
The good ole boy network is alive and well in South Carolina. Ray Bruns Yesterday #6
Does OJ Simpson have an alibi? COL Mustard Yesterday #10
.....Despite Wednesday's ruling, Murdaugh won't be released from prison. He also pleaded guilty to stealing about $12 mi riversedge Yesterday #7
11 of the 12 jurors said the clerk's comment made no difference in their decision-making. TheRickles Yesterday #8
Money talks angrychair Yesterday #9
The gov't should sue that darn court clerk for all of the taxpayer money she has wasted. Jacson6 Yesterday #11
Hilarys emails did it BillJoeBobBeauregard 23 hrs ago #12
Baloney! SergeStorms 23 hrs ago #13
Speaking of Hill: Floyd R. Turbo 23 hrs ago #16
How could they possibly find an impartial jury at this stage? vankuria 21 hrs ago #20

hlthe2b

(114,583 posts)
1. Damn. I don't mind saying the evidence (reportedly presented) was OVERWHELMING...
Wed May 13, 2026, 11:36 AM
Yesterday

They damned well better convict him again!

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

NoSheep

(8,374 posts)
17. Honest question: Could you tell me why he deserves a new trial?
Wed May 13, 2026, 02:51 PM
22 hrs ago

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

(4,459 posts)
18. County clerk influenced the jury
Wed May 13, 2026, 03:02 PM
22 hrs ago
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.

Goonch

(5,554 posts)
3. ;-{)......
Wed May 13, 2026, 11:45 AM
Yesterday
;
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

(5,901 posts)
4. When you have money and political clout
Wed May 13, 2026, 11:50 AM
Yesterday

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

wolfie001

(7,950 posts)
14. Yes
Wed May 13, 2026, 02:08 PM
23 hrs ago

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

(42,341 posts)
5. So who killed his wife and son?
Wed May 13, 2026, 11:54 AM
Yesterday

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?

COL Mustard

(8,378 posts)
10. Does OJ Simpson have an alibi?
Wed May 13, 2026, 12:42 PM
Yesterday

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

(81,497 posts)
7. .....Despite Wednesday's ruling, Murdaugh won't be released from prison. He also pleaded guilty to stealing about $12 mi
Wed May 13, 2026, 12:27 PM
Yesterday

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

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

Jacson6

(2,177 posts)
11. The gov't should sue that darn court clerk for all of the taxpayer money she has wasted.
Wed May 13, 2026, 01:22 PM
Yesterday

SergeStorms

(20,797 posts)
13. Baloney!
Wed May 13, 2026, 02:01 PM
23 hrs ago

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

Welcome to Democratic Underground.

Floyd R. Turbo

(33,251 posts)
16. Speaking of Hill:
Wed May 13, 2026, 02:41 PM
23 hrs ago

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

(975 posts)
20. How could they possibly find an impartial jury at this stage?
Wed May 13, 2026, 03:53 PM
21 hrs ago

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

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