Attorney Eric Brand, who represents multiple victims of Murdaugh's financial crimes, says the push for Alex Murdaugh's new trial may depend entirely on one juror who “doesn't want to talk.” He told Fox News Digital.
“There's a jury that no one has ever talked to,” Brand said. “(Murdaugh's attorney Dick) Harpootlian probably talked to six people.” [or] There are seven jurors left, and there's one that no one, including the state, is talking about because they don't want to talk. ”
Murdaugh's defense team said Colleton County Court Clerk Becky Hill last year pressured jurors to convict the disgraced South Carolina lawyer who killed his wife and son in 2021. is seeking a retrial on charges of engaging in jury tampering prior to sentencing.
Mr. Bland's comments came as South Carolina Judge Jean Tolle told the 12 jurors who deliberated Mr. Murdaugh's double murder trial on Tuesday that they were concerned about Mr. Hill's alleged misconduct and how it influenced the verdict. This comes after the court ruled that questions can be asked in open court about whether or not the matter is true.
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Alex Murdaugh reacts as he addresses the court after being sentenced for stealing from 18 customers at the Beaufort County Courthouse on November 28, 2023 in Beaufort, South Carolina. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier, Associated Press, Pool)
This decision may have come as a surprise to the defense team, which had requested testimony from all jurors who deliberated, as well as all alternate jurors.
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“The defense can't put it any other way, but it was just trucked in yesterday,” Brand said of Tuesday's hearing. “They obviously came to court with submissions and a lot of what was in the media was about Becky Hill and some of her misconduct that happened after the trial. They came out strong, but They walked away like lambs because they didn't do it.'' They didn't expect Judge Toll not to enjoy the circus. ”
Alex speaks with attorneys Dick Harputlan (left) and Jim Griffin after being sentenced for stealing from 18 clients at the Beaufort County Courthouse on November 28, 2023 in Beaufort, South Carolina. Mr. Murdaugh. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier, Associated Press, Pool)
Under South Carolina law, “the burden of proof is on the party making the claim for jury intervention,” Brand explained. In other words, Murdaugh's defense attorneys need to “prove that what was said was prejudicial” and “prove that it influenced the jury, their deliberations, and the trial.” . The verdict was influenced by the statement. ”
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Judge Toll said Tuesday that he planned to ask jurors what Ms. Hill said to them and how her comments influenced their decision on the verdict. He also clarified that Hill is “not on trial” and that the court clerk only needs to answer related questions.
“Our justice system is built to uphold jury verdicts.”
Having one juror who hasn't spoken to either the defense or the prosecution since Murdaugh was convicted in March “may be enough to change course,” Brand said. Told.
Rebecca Hill arrives at the Today show studio on March 6, 2023 in New York City. She served as a court clerk during the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh. (Jennifer Mitchell, FOX News Digital)
“But right now the defense has a very tall order because they have to spend the next two weeks preparing for a hearing they never thought they would have to prepare for,” he said.
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Jurors interviewed by Brand were “certainly apprehensive” about testifying because they thought Murdaugh's story was “in the rearview mirror.”
“They gave up six weeks of their life. It was very stressful.”
“They sacrificed their jobs and their families and made very important decisions,” Brand explained. “They didn't say that to me, but I don't think one or two things Becky Hill said could have resulted in a sentence that they might not have made or a sentence that could have been given. I believe they would be offended if it was suggested that this was not the case.''This was in stark contrast to the more than 400 pieces of evidence they had seen in the six weeks they had heard 70 people testify. ”
Colleton County Court Clerk Rebecca Hill walks past her daughter singing at a party on March 1, 2023 in Walterboro, South Carolina. Becky Hill is a key figure in the campaign to get the Alex Murdaugh double murder case retried. (Mark Sims, Fox News Digital)
Murdaugh's attorneys, Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, said in their motion for a new trial that Hill advised jurors not to believe Murdaugh's testimony and told the panel to “quickly… He claimed that he lied to the judge in a campaign to have him removed, pressuring him to give a “guilty verdict.” Panelists sympathetic to the defense.
“Ms. Hill did this to secure for herself a book contract and media appearances that would not have occurred in a miscarriage of justice,” the filing states. “Mr. Hill betrayed her oath of office for money and fame.”
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The South Carolina Department of Law Enforcement has opened two investigations into Hill's conduct during Murdaugh's murder trial. That includes an investigation into allegations that Hill used her position as a clerk to obtain financial benefits from the sale of her book on the case, which she later accused of plagiarism. admitted that it was included. New investigation into jury tampering allegations.
A photo of the Murdaugh family taken days before Paul and Maggie Murdaugh were shot. From left: Buster, Paul, Maggie, and Alex Murdaugh. (Defense exhibition)
Murdaugh, 55, was sentenced in March to two life sentences for shooting and killing his 52-year-old wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and their son. Paul Murdaugh, 22 years old; In June 2021.
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The disgraced South Carolina lawyer was also sentenced to 27 years in prison for financial crimes in November. In exchange for a 27-year sentence, he agreed to plead guilty to 22 of about 100 charges totaling $10 million, including breach of trust, money laundering, forgery and tax evasion.
Murdaugh previously pleaded guilty in federal court to 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering.
FOX News' Chelsea Torres and Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this report.
