In a recent court document, Alex Murdaugh, convicted of a double murder, claims that he only found out about alleged jury tampering after receiving two life sentences for the tragic shooting of his wife and son.
He insists that he had no prior knowledge of any communication between Colleton County Clerk of Court, Rebecca Hill, or anyone else with the jury during the trial, regarding evidence, jury deliberation, or any related matters.
This revelation comes as a response to prosecutors who criticized the petition for a new trial, labelling it "procedurally defective" due to the absence of a sworn statement and failure to specify when they became aware of these allegations.
Defense attorneys, Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, have accused prosecutors of acting in "bad faith" and attempting to delay addressing the serious allegations of misconduct. They allege that Hill influenced jurors to disbelieve Murdaugh's testimony and pressured them to swiftly deliver a guilty verdict, potentially to secure a book deal.
The defense team initiated an appeal following the verdict but prior to interviewing the three jurors who made these startling claims.
Recently, they requested the South Carolina Court of Appeals to halt the appeal and return the case to the trial judge for a reconsideration of the verdict based on the newly surfaced evidence. Their argument centers on the assertion that Hill, who authored a memoir about the trial, prioritized financial gain and fame over her oath of office.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson responded with a four-page brief, not outrightly denying the allegations but pointing out critical information missing from the motion for a new trial.
Interestingly, on the same day as these legal developments, Alex Murdaugh admitted to 22 counts of financial misconduct in federal court, marking his first guilty plea to a crime.
In his own words, he expressed a desire to take responsibility for his actions, hoping it would aid in the healing process for those he had hurt. However, he continues to maintain his innocence in the murders of his wife, Maggie, and his son Paul, which occurred in June 2021.
In another tragic turn of events, a woman and a suspect linked to the shocking murders of four members from the same family in Romeoville, Illinois, lost their lives following a high-speed police chase that ended in a devastating vehicle crash. See detailed story here
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