COLUMBIA, S.C. — Alex Murdaugh has filed an appeal of his convictions for killing his wife and adult son, arguing there were multiple errors during his trial that prejudiced the jury in his case.
Murdaugh and his attorneys filed the paperwork Tuesday with the South Carolina Supreme Court. Murdaugh was convicted in March 2023 of killing his wife, Maggie, and their adult son, Paul, at the family's estate in Colleton County in June of 2021. Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman then gave him two life sentences in prison.
The 121-page appeal document outlines several key reasons they believe the conviction should be tossed, chief among them that there was jury tampering by the former clerk of court for Colleton County, Becky Hill. His lawyers argued that in the weeks after the trial, they were told Hill made comments to jurors to not be misled by Murdaugh's testimony and to "watch his body language."
Back in January of this year, former South Carolina Chief Justice Jean Toal heard a motion by Murdaugh's attorneys on those claims as they argued he deserved a new trial. Toal questioned the jurors from the trial one by one, and while most denied hearing such comments from Hill, one juror said she may have been swayed by remarks from the former clerk.
Toal ultimately denied the request for a new trial, saying that Hill's comments had to have led to a juror actually changing their verdict to be considered jury tampering. Murdaugh's lawyers at the time, and in the appeal, argue Hills's comments on their face constitute jury tampering.
Murdaugh's attorneys also said evidence presented in the murder trial showing Murdaugh's involvement in massive financial crimes should not have been allowed to be presented by prosecutors. At the time, the state argued Murdaugh's embezzlement schemes and financial crimes led to the killings, but the defense said those claims lacked relevance. By admitting this information, Murdaugh's attorneys said it made the jury believe he was morally corrupt.
The appeal also said they have problems with forensic evidence presented at the trial involving Maggie's cell phone as well as firearms evidence. They also said while Murdaugh did repeatedly lie to investigators about where he was on the night of the killings, it didn't constitute proof of guilt.
It's unclear when the State Supreme Court may make a decision on whether to hear the case. If he were successful in his appeal, however, he still faces decades in prison for both federal and state convictions for embezzling millions from his clients and law firm.