Alex Murdaugh lawyers raise explosive questions about a possible accomplice before retrial
Evidence disputes intensify
The defense and prosecutors are preparing for a new trial on murder charges. Their filings show growing disagreements over evidence that could matter in court. One dispute concerns whether prosecutors have brought a grand jury investigation involving a police officer who was friends with Murdaugh. Prosecutors have not confirmed whether such evidence exists, citing restrictions on grand jury proceedings.
Questions about the crime scene
Prosecutors accused the defense of making false and prejudicial claims in public filings and in open court. Murdaugh’s lawyers responded critically after prosecutors agreed to provide the scan data.
Retrial follows overturned convictions
Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot dead at the family’s Colleton County estate. Murdaugh, a former attorney, is scheduled to face trial again in April. The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned his original convictions earlier this year, ruling that a court clerk had improperly influenced jurors during the widely watched 2023 trial. The retrial is set for Sumter County, about 80 miles from the estate.
Key points
- Murdaugh’s retrial on murder charges is scheduled for April in Sumter County.
- His original convictions were overturned after the state Supreme Court found improper jury influence by a court clerk.
- The defense seeks answers about a police officer and additional testing of genetic and ballistics evidence.
- Murdaugh will remain behind bars regardless of the retrial’s outcome.