Attorney for Convicted Murderers and Disbarred Personal Injury Lawyers Alex Murdaugh He filed for a new trial after the judge dismissed the first one.
Former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toll denied Murdaugh’s request for a new trial in January after his defense team raised allegations of jury misconduct against Colleton County Court Clerk Becky Hill. Murdaugh’s attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, argue that a new murder trial is warranted because Hill allegedly poisoned the jury against his client.
Hill and jurors in the trial testified at a January hearing. She denies any wrongdoing. After hearing their testimony, Judge Toll decided a new trial was not necessary.
Toal said before the verdict that although Hill was “attracted by the siren call of celebrity” and made “fleeting and foolish statements,” jurors took their task of convicting Murdaugh seriously. Ta.
Alex Murdaugh sentenced to 40 years in prison for financial crimes after polygraph controversy
Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of murdering his wife Maggie and younger son Paul in June 2021, faces a new trial hearing on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Richland County Justice Center in Columbia, South Carolina. attend.
Of the 12 jurors who convicted Murdaugh last spring, 11 said Hill had no influence on their decision. One person said he heard the clerk comment on observing Mr. Murdaugh’s body language, but that her words did not influence his verdict.
Still, Hill resigned following the allegations. She is currently the subject of two ongoing investigations by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Murdaugh’s legal representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Alex Murdaugh’s attorney wants to make a public statement about the stolen money. FBI claims Murdaugh lied
Alex Murdaugh shakes hands with attorney Jim Griffin after being sentenced for stealing from 18 clients at the Beaufort County Courthouse on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 in Beaufort, South Carolina. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier, via AP)
Murdaugh was convicted last year of shooting and killing his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. He is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for murder. Prosecutors argued that the murder was an attempt to distract from Murdaugh’s growing financial crimes, which were then beginning to come to light.
The disgraced legal scion pleaded guilty to 22 federal financial crime charges last September and was sentenced last week to 40 years in prison.
Alex Murdaugh court clerk Becky Hill resigns over jury misconduct allegations
Becky Hill said her decision to resign as Colleton County Court Clerk has nothing to do with any pending investigation into her conduct. (WCIV)
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel He said he is committed to a 480-month prison sentence and a total restitution obligation of more than $9 million. However, because the defendants lacked the ability to pay restitution, Mr. Gergel waived his fee and required Mr. Murdaugh to immediately pay $2,000 in special assessments.
“I want you and all the victims to know: I’m filled with sadness. I’m filled with remorse. I’m filled with guilt,” Murdaugh said during the sentencing hearing.
Griffin told reporters outside the Charleston courthouse on April 1 that he did not know how much of his client’s 40-year sentence he would ultimately serve.
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“Federal inmates have completed about 60% of their sentences, so 40 years is equivalent to 24 years,” Griffin said, adding, “Things can change over time.” Ta.
Murdaugh was also sentenced to 27 years in prison for financial crimes in a state case last November.
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin and Kennedy Hayes contributed to this report.
