Convicted US Attorney
Jury tampered? Appeals Court Allows Alex Murdaugh’s Request for New Trial
Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison in March for the murders of his wife and youngest son
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Convicted double murderer Alex Murdaugh is fighting for a new trial. A corresponding initial application from his lawyers has now been granted. They claim that the jury was manipulated in reaching its verdict at the time – by a court reporter.
Murdaugh’s attorneys claim in the motion filed in early September that clerk Rebecca Hill “instructed the jury not to be misled by the evidence presented in Mr. Murdaugh’s defense.” They also claimed that Hill “told jurors not to be ‘fooled’ by Mr. Murdaugh’s statements in his own defense.” Hill is also accused of having “frequent private conversations with the jury foreman” and fabricating a story to exclude from the trial a juror she believed would plead not guilty. The motion includes statements from members of the jury detailing Hill’s alleged conduct.
Alex Murdaugh faces more years in prison
The 65-page document states: “Ms. Hill betrayed her oath of office for money and fame.” Hill had released a book after the trial called “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders” in which she wrote about her relationship with the Murdaugh family and provided detailed insight and background information that unfolded during the trial. According to Murdaugh’s lawyers, by allegedly influencing the jury, Hill tried to “secure a book deal and media appearances that would not happen in the event of a wrongful conviction.”
But even if the conviction is overturned, Alex Murdaugh will not be released. The lawyer pleaded guilty last month to stealing millions of dollars from clients for whom he handled personal injury cases in court. He also stole insurance money intended for the family of his late housekeeper, who died in a fall on the Murdaugh estate. He also pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering. For these crimes alone, the 55-year-old faces several years, if not decades, in prison.
Alex Murdaugh was found guilty in March of shooting his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son Paul, 22, on the family estate on June 7, 2021. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. To this day he maintains his innocence.
Watch the video: In February 2007, flight attendant Claudia Knapp was found dead by her son in their apartment in Velbert, North Rhine-Westphalia. The search for the perpetrator comes to nothing. 16 years later, the investigators can apparently clarify the cold case.
Sources: courttv.com, CNN, Associated Press, courthousenews.com