Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers expect disgraced lawyer to receive new trial, alleging jury tampering
Rachel Schilke
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Attorneys for disgraced South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh said they are optimistic that their client will receive a new trial after they presented evidence that alleges juror interference.
Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, defense attorneys for Murdaugh, filed a motion on Tuesday asking for a stay of Murdaugh’s double murder conviction and a new trial. They alleged that the Colleton County clerk of court tampered with the jury during the six-week trial.
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The attorneys’ motion claims that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill “tampered with the jury” by advising jurors “not to believe Murdaugh’s testimony and other evidence presented by the defense, pressuring them to reach a quick guilty verdict, and even misrepresenting critical and material information to the trial judge in her campaign to remove a juror she believed to be favorable to the defense,” according to court documents.
Harpootlian and Griffin released a statement on Tuesday following their filing. They said they have requested that South Carolina U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs open a federal investigation into the violation of Alex Murdaugh’s civil rights.
“The serious allegations in the petition filed today speak for themselves but we believe they explain a number of peculiarities in the six-week trial,” the defense lawyers said. “We request that SLED stand down on initiating any investigation of these allegations since they are heavily invested in maintaining Alex’s conviction.”
“Alex Murdaugh maintained and still maintains his innocence of the murder of Maggie and Paul and he believes the truth will ultimately prevail,” the lawyers continued.
According to the motion, Hill allegedly instructed jurors “not to be ‘misled’ by evidence” presented by Murdaugh’s defense team and “not to be ‘fooled by’ Mr. Murdaugh’s testimony.”
The motion also alleged that Hill asked jurors for their opinions regarding Murdaugh’s guilt or innocence and “invented a story” about a Facebook post in order to remove a juror she believed would have voted not guilty.
Harpootlian and Griffin are demanding an evidentiary hearing to determine the possibility of a new trial.
“I’m very optimistic that ultimately we will get a new trial,” Griffin said during a news conference on Tuesday. “How long that will take, I don’t know.”
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Murdaugh was convicted on March 2 of two murder charges, and he was sentenced on March 3 to two life sentences without parole. He appealed his conviction and sentencing a few days later.
Meanwhile, the court has set a change of plea hearing for Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. following Murdaugh’s request. The hearing indicates Murdaugh may change his not guilty plea for separate federal financial crimes to guilty.