Alex Murdaugh’s Defense Pursues DNA Evidence in Murder Case
Alex Murdaugh’s legal team is highlighting newly discovered male DNA found under the fingernails of Maggie Murdaugh in their bid to introduce fresh evidence in the ongoing murder trial. The attorneys filed a motion on Tuesday in Colleton County, requesting an independent review of the DNA evidence, a change of venue from the 14th Circuit, and permission for Murdaugh to access case documents electronically while incarcerated.
The motion specifically requests that the court mandates the state to submit DNA from under Maggie Murdaugh’s left hand for examination by an independent laboratory. The defense claims that this evidence, labeled as SLED Item No. 70, has been identified by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) as belonging to an unknown man unrelated to the case.
The defense emphasized that no further analysis had been conducted on this evidence. They reached out to a forensic genetics company, Osram, which had previously worked on the Brian Koberger case, to assess the possibility of more thorough testing.
Osram indicated that while a detailed analysis could be performed, it would be time-consuming and require urgent processing. The defense is asking the court for permission to send the samples to Osram for testing, which they would fund themselves.
In a separate motion, the defense sought to move Murdaugh’s trial out of the 14th Judicial Circuit, encompassing several counties including Allendale and Beaufort. They argued that this case represents one of the most widely publicized criminal prosecutions in South Carolina and that the extensive media coverage surrounding both Murdaugh and his family’s historical ties to local law practice could bias potential jurors.
The motion did not come as a surprise, given Murdaugh’s lead attorney, Dick Harpootran, had previously communicated intentions to seek a change of venue.
Additionally, the defense requested that the South Carolina Department of Corrections permit Murdaugh to view case materials on a secure laptop. They asserted that the amount of documentation involved is so substantial that it could overwhelm physical storage. The proposed laptop would be equipped with an encrypted and password-protected hard drive, ensuring it lacks internet connectivity and would be securely stored when not in use. They argued this setup would be safer than shipping boxes of confidential documents to the prison.
The court has not yet made a decision regarding any of these motions. Attempts to obtain comments from the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and Murdaugh’s attorney remain ongoing.
