False grand jury testimony alleged: Alex Murdaugh lawyers want murder indictments tossed over investigator who lied

Defense challenges grand jury testimony

Murdaugh’s attorneys are expected in court Friday before Judge Debra McCaslin. They say Owen misled the Colleton County grand jury while prosecutors sought murder indictments. The lawyers allege Owen said blood spatter had been found on a T-shirt Murdaugh wore on the night of the killings. An earlier state agents’ report said there were no blood stains, and that evidence was not presented at trial.

They also dispute Owen’s account of ammunition. He reportedly told jurors that the buckshot-and-birdshot load used to kill Paul was found in weapons across the Murdaugh property; the defense says that was not true.

Other information given to jurors

Owen also discussed a video recorded by Paul in which Alex Murdaugh’s voice could be heard at the scene, contradicting Murdaugh’s denials. He described the family’s growing debts and said Murdaugh’s theft schemes were close to discovery.

The allegations come after a judge last year dismissed another murder case involving Owen. In that case, a victim’s mother had told the agent about her daughter’s suicide threat shortly before her death, but Owen did not pass that information to prosecutors or defense attorneys.

Retrial may still proceed

The defense’s request is described as a long shot. Even if McCaslin dismisses the original indictments, prosecutors could seek a new set as soon as next month, and the defense has said it will not oppose that step.

Prosecutors allege Murdaugh killed Maggie and Paul at the family’s South Carolina Lowcountry property in 2021. He denies being a killer and is serving decades in prison for stealing millions from clients.

His murder convictions have been overturned, but he remains imprisoned under separate financial crime sentences. The murder case will not determine when he may be released.