Two years after Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder, his attorney, Dick Harpootlian, insists that Murdaugh is actually innocent of killing his wife and younger son. Murdaugh, now 56, received a life sentence for fatally shooting his wife Maggie and son Paul at their hunting lodge in South Carolina in June 2021.
Harpootlian shared his thoughts with Fox News Digital, emphasizing, “Do you think he did it? No.” He recounted the frequent meetings he had with the Murdaugh family leading up to the murder charges, illustrating a sense of normalcy before the tragedy.
Prosecutors argued that the murders were part of a scheme by Murdaugh to divert attention from his escalating financial issues, which were beginning to unravel around that time. Adding to his legal woes, Murdaugh was sentenced to 27 years for financial fraud in November 2023.
Interestingly, Harpootlian noted the dualistic nature of the evidence, stating, “The state claims he devised a plan to distract from the money he stole.” He explained that Murdaugh’s intent, as he believes, was to protect his family, not to harm them. The details surrounding Paul’s shooting—described as exceedingly brutal—complicate Murdaugh’s narrative. Harpootlian acknowledged, “The way Paul was shot, I mean… it’s horrific.”
Questions still linger about who actually carried out the murders. Harpootlian mentioned that they don’t need to identify the killer directly; rather, their goal is to generate reasonable doubt regarding Murdaugh’s involvement, especially given the lack of forensic evidence linking him to the crime scene.
Looking forward, Harpootlian is hopeful that he may secure a new trial due to alleged misconduct by court personnel. He maintains regular contact with Murdaugh, expressing admiration for his client’s resilience in adversity. “Most people would collapse in despair, but that’s not Alex,” he noted.
Harpootlian, who has been a prominent figure in the Murdaugh case, has a long history in law that extends back to the 1980s. Reflecting on his youthful ideals and opposition to capital punishment, he revealed how his experiences shifted his views over the years, particularly in cases involving notorious criminals like serial killer Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins.
In his forthcoming book, Harpootlian discusses these moral complexities, raising the question of responsibility surrounding lethal punishment. Titled “Dig Me A Grave: The Inside Story of Serial Killers in the South,” the book is set for release on December 16 but is available for pre-order now.
