Alex Murdaugh Demands New Trial, Accuses Court Clerk of Jury Tampering

Alex Murdaugh, a convicted murderer and disgraced former attorney, is seeking a fresh trial in South Carolina.

Murdaugh's legal team asserts that the court clerk's intentional malfeasance jeopardized his right to a fair trial under the Constitution.

Alex Murdaugh Seeks Retrial Amid Clerk Misconduct Claims

They claim to have discovered newly discovered evidence and request a hearing to investigate further. Murdaugh, who remains embroiled in allegations related to his family's law firm and the death of his former housekeeper, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, in 2021 in March.

Attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, who represent 55-year-old Murdaugh, have made shocking allegations against Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill. According to CNN, they assert that Hill intentionally manipulated the jury during the trial to gain financial gain.

Hill, who self-published "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders" in July, is the subject of these allegations. Griffin and Harpootlian are advocating for an evidentiary hearing that would give them the authority to subpoena phone records and communications and interview witnesses.

Their ultimate objective is to obtain a new trial for their client, formerly sentenced to life in prison. Murdaugh maintained his innocence and vehemently denied involvement in the homicides during his trial.

The court filing by Murdaugh's legal team portrays a troubling picture of Rebecca Hill's conduct during the trial. They assert that Hill undermined the fairness of the proceedings, including instructing jurors not to be misled by Murdaugh's defense evidence and cautioning them not to be "duped" by his testimony.

The filing also alleges that Hill engaged in private conversations with the jury foreperson, solicited jurors' opinions regarding Murdaugh's guilt or innocence, fabricated a story about a Facebook post to remove a juror she believed might not vote guilty, and pressured jurors to reach a quick verdict.

Murdaugh's counsel presented affidavits from three unidentified jurors and excerpts from Hill's book supporting their claims. They accuse Hill of violating her oath of office because her actions were motivated by a desire for financial gain and fame.

The jurors' affidavits and willingness to interact with Murdaugh's legal team indicate they were uneasy and dissatisfied with how the trial unfolded. The lawyers emphasized that the jurors were upset with Hill's actions, particularly since she had started a book tour to make money from her involvement in the case.

Murdaugh's attorneys assert that the jurors' concern with Hill's actions increased after the publication of her book. Griffin and Harpootlian have escalated their efforts by asking the US attorney for South Carolina to launch a federal investigation into the alleged misconduct surrounding the trial, as per NY Post.

Murdaugh's Team Claims Trial is Tampered

This action demonstrates the gravity of the allegations and the resolve of Murdaugh's legal team to uncover the truth about what transpired during the trial. CBS News has reached out to Rebecca Hill for comment on the allegations, but a response has yet to be received as of publication.

According to Murdaugh's legal team, Hill's actions taint the trial's objectivity. Public attention has been drawn to the dramatic turn of events in Alex Murdaugh's case, as he seeks a new trial based on allegations of jury tampering by the court assistant.

If proven, these allegations raise grave concerns about the trial's justice and the legal system's legitimacy. As the legal proceedings unfold, the pursuit of justice continues, and the case continues to be the subject of intense scrutiny and discussion.