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The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for Alex Murdaugh, ruling that improper comments by Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill tainted the jury that convicted him of murdering his wife and son.
In a lengthy opinion, the court said Hill crossed the line when she made comments about Murdaugh’s testimony and urged jurors not to be fooled by his defense. The justices said those remarks were not harmless and created a presumption of prejudice that the state could not rebut.
Murdaugh was convicted in March 2023 of killing his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, along with two weapons charges. He was sentenced to life in prison. He later argued that Hill interfered with the jury and denied him his constitutional right to a fair trial.
The court agreed, saying Hill’s conduct was an improper outside influence on the jury. The opinion said Hill’s remarks went directly to Murdaugh’s credibility, which was central to the case. The justices said her position as clerk of court gave her comments added weight with jurors.
The court also rejected the trial court’s reliance on jurors’ testimony about whether Hill’s remarks affected their verdicts. It said such testimony improperly delved into the jury’s mental process, which is protected from inquiry under the rules of evidence.
Although the court ruled for Murdaugh on the new trial issue, it also addressed evidence tied to his financial crimes. The justices said some of that evidence was admissible because it helped explain the state’s motive theory. But they said the prosecution went too far in presenting inflammatory and time-consuming details that had little probative value and created unfair prejudice.
The court sent the case back to lower court proceedings, saying any retrial must be handled under proper legal standards and with tighter limits if financial-crimes evidence is used again.
The attorneys for Alex Murdaugh released the following statement in response to the ruling.
