The Supreme Court of South Carolina has agreed to hear convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh’s jury tampering appeal. The appeal will now skip the complex appeals process and move directly to the high court of South Carolina.
The defense hopes the state Supreme Court could overturn Judge Jean Toals decision on January 29th, that denied Murdaugh’s attempt to get a new trial for the murders of his wife and son. The retired Chief Justice said that Becky Hill, the now-former Colleton County Clerk of Court tampered with the jury by making comments implying Murdaugh’s guilt to jurors. Toal in her ruling stated that Hill was “attracted by the siren call of celebrity” and made improper comments to the jury but ruled that the comments did not influence the verdict they handed down.
Toal said, “I simply do not believe that the authority of our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial such as this on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-influenced clerk of courts,”
Hill has denied the allegations against her but has resigned her position as Colleton County Clerk of Court. She is currently under state investigation for ethics violations. The investigation alleges she used her professional position for personal gain.
In addition to his double murder sentence, Murdaugh has also been sentenced in state and federal court, dozens of financial charges for stealing money from his legal clients and his law firm.
