Alex Murdaugh's murder case gets another trial after a state Supreme Court deemed his case was compromised by 'jury interference.'
The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned Alex Murdaugh's double-murder convictions on Wednesday, citing 'shocking jury interference' by former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill as grounds for appeal.
Hill pleaded guilty in December 2025 to perjury-related charges after lying in court about allowing the press to view sealed exhibits. The justices ruled then that Hill's conduct had unfairly tainted the high-profile case.
The court's decision annuls Murdaugh's double life sentence for the 2021 killings of his wife Maggie and son Paul, paving the way for a new trial. Murdaugh, 57, was convicted in 2023 for fatally shooting the victims at their South Carolina property two years prior.
Murdaugh was found guilty of the double murderafter jurors deliberated on the verdict for less than two hours,Peoplereported. Insisting on his innocence, Murdaugh now gets a chance to prove that in another trial.
Murdaugh's attorneys argued successfully that Hill influenced jurors against him during the proceedings she oversaw.
The court found her actions 'egregiously attacked Murdaugh's credibility' by suggesting to jurors that his testimony could not be trusted. In their appeal, Murdaugh's attorneys stated that 'he was denied his constitutional right to a fair trial by an impartial jury free from outside influences.'
Assigned to manage evidence and the jury, Hill swayed deliberations toward a conviction in what became known as South Carolina's trial of the century. Her improper comments and interference were deemed prejudicial enough to void the verdicts.
The unanimous ruling highlighted Hill as a 'rogue' clerk whose behaviour necessitated appeal grounds beyond financial crime evidence disputes. Justices grilled attorneys on her role during prior hearings, focusing on her partiality throughout the trial.
In 2024, one of the jurors testified that Hill told them that it was an 'important' and 'epic' moment on the day Murdaugh took the stand, adding that defendants rarely testified. Per the appeal, Hill also allegedly told jurors 'not to be fooled' by the defence and instead focus on Murdaugh's 'actions' and 'movements.'
Source: International Business Times UK
