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LEXINGTON, S.C. (BFMG) — A South Carolina judge authorized independent testing of remaining DNA evidence Friday in Alex Murdaugh’s double-murder case, while rejecting a broad ballistics request and admonishing attorneys over continuing evidence disputes.
Judge Debra McCaslin issued the rulings during a pretrial hearing at the Lexington County Courthouse as prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare for Murdaugh’s retrial in the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. The trial is scheduled to begin April 5, 2027, in Sumter County.
Defense attorneys sought further examination of unidentified male DNA found beneath Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails and on her cellphone. Prosecutors opposed the proposed testing, arguing that it could consume the remaining material and prevent future analysis. McCaslin sided with the defense, allowing independent testing to proceed.
The judge denied an extensive request for comparisons with ballistics evidence from other South Carolina shootings. Defense attorneys sought to explore whether the missing murder weapons had been used in other crimes, but McCaslin found the proposed connection speculative and called the request a “fishing expedition.”
McCaslin also criticized both sides for their handling of evidence exchanges. Prosecutor Creighton Waters said the defense had repeatedly requested material already provided, while defense attorneys raised concerns about delayed disclosure. The judge directed the lawyers to communicate and resolve routine disputes, and ordered prosecutors to provide additional evidence by Monday, Oct. 19.
The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13, when arguments concerning a defense effort to dismiss the case are expected.
