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The unusual hearing Monday comes in response to allegations by Murdaugh's attorneys that a clerk of court tampered with the jury that convicted him of murder last year. Jury tampering is the basis for Murdaugh's appeal, but Judge Jean Toal’s rulings after a pretrial hearing this month have set a difficult standard for his lawyers to prove. Toal ruled the defense must prove that potential misconduct including alleged comments by Hill warning jurors not to trust Murdaugh when he testifies directly led jurors to change their minds to guilty. The hearing will be televised, but their faces cannot be shown and they will only be identified by their juror numbers. They said this enabled prosecutors to smear Murdaugh with evidence not directly linked to the killings.

Persons: — Alex Murdaugh, who'll, Becky Hill, Murdaugh, lording, Jean Toal’s, Toal, Hill, Murdaugh’s, Clifton Newman, He's, Paul, Maggie, Murdaugh hasn't Organizations: COLUMBIA, BBC Locations: South Carolina, Colleton County, Colleton, Richland

☆ A hearing to see if Alex Murdaugh gets a new murder trial begins today
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Dakin Andone | Dianne Gallagher | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The South Carolina Attorney General’s office, which led the prosecution against Murdaugh, has urged the courts to deny the motion. The evidentiary hearing Monday is expected to include the testimony of 11 jurors from the original murder trial and Hill. Murdaugh’s attorneys had indicated they also wanted to call alternate and dismissed jurors, as well as prosecutors and Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over the murder trial, as witnesses. Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill listens as prosecutor Creighton Waters makes closing arguments in Alex Murdaugh's murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse on March 1, 2023, in Walterboro, South Carolina. Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys Dick Harpootlian, left, and Jim Griffin before a hearing on January 16 at the Richland County Judicial Center in Columbia.

Persons: Alex Murdaugh, Murdaugh, Colleton, Rebecca “ Becky ” Hill, Hill, “, ” Hill, Dick Harpootlian, Clifton Newman, Jean Toal –, Newman, –, Rebecca Hill, Creighton Waters, Alex Murdaugh's, Maggie, Paul, Alan Wilson, Ms, ”, ‘, ” Hill’s, Neil R, Gordon, Justin Bamberg, Will Lewis, Jim Griffin, Gavin McIntyre, ” Murdaugh’s, Judge Toal, ” CNN’s Devon Sayers Organizations: CNN, South Carolina Attorney, South Carolina Supreme, The State, TNS, Getty, Prosecutors, South Carolina, Judicial Center, Courier, South, South Carolina Law Locations: Colleton County, South Carolina, Colleton, Walterboro , South Carolina, The, Columbia , South Carolina, Richland, Columbia

Toal took over the request for a new trial after the judge overseeing the case, Clifton Newman, recused himself late last year. Hill has sworn that she did not ask jurors about Murdaugh’s guilt and never suggested that he committed the murders. State police are investigating the jury tampering and misuse of office allegations against Hill but have not charged her with any crimes. He said Hill told an assistant during the trial that a guilty verdict would be good for her book sales. Toal also expressed openness to other ways of ensuring the jurors' privacy, such as obscuring their faces during testimony.

Persons: Alex Murdaugh, Becky Hill, Jean Toal, Toal, Hill, Clifton Newman, “, Jan, Newman, Murdaugh, Maggie, Paul, Jim Griffin, Griffin, ” Toal, Creighton Waters, Waters, Dick Harpootlian, Joe McCulloch, ”, ___ Pollard Organizations: South Carolina Supreme, Defense, Court, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Colleton

☆ Alex Murdaugh reaches plea deal days before trial in financial crimes case
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Juliette Arcodia | Erik Ortiz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh struck a plea deal Friday, days before the start of his trial in South Carolina's sprawling case against him in dozens of financial crimes. For more on the case, watch "The Murdaugh Murders: Inside the Investigation" on "Dateline" at 9 ET/8 CT Friday. Murdaugh has proclaimed his innocence in the fatal shootings of his wife and son since a grand jury indicted him in the murders last year. Prosecutors alleged he killed them to gain pity before he would be exposed for a slew of financial crimes. In return, his federal sentence must run at the same time as any sentence imposed in his state case.

Persons: Alex Murdaugh, Clifton Newman, Gloria Satterfield, Creighton Waters, general's, Murdaugh, Margaret, Paul, Murdaugh's Organizations: Prosecutors Locations: Colleton, South, Beaufort County, South Carolina's

They said the court clerk, in charge of helping jurors and ensuring the trial ran efficiently, also had private conversations with the jury foreperson and pressured jurors to come to a quick verdict. And she pressured jurors to reach a guilty verdict quickly so she could profit from it,” defense attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian wrote. Hill’s book discusses how her Christian faith helped her navigate the sudden fame and responsibility that came with the Murdaugh trial. She said she became convinced of Murdaugh’s guilt when jurors and court officials visited the family home where the shootings happened. “I was mostly concerned about Alex being found innocent when I knew in my heart he was guilty,” Hill wrote.

Persons: —, Alex Murdaugh, Rebecca Hill, Clifton Newman, Murdaugh, Hill, “, Jim Griffin, Dick Harpootlian, didn't, Neil Gordon, “ I’ve, ” Gordon, Alex, ” Hill, Murdaugh didn't Organizations: COLUMBIA, Hampton County Guardian, South Carolina Attorney General's Locations: South Carolina, Colleton, Southern, Hampton County

Richard Alexander Murdaugh is seen in a mugshot taken after his arrest, at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. in this handout obtained March 4, 2023. South Carolina Department of Corrections/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 21 (Reuters) - Disbarred South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, who was convicted of murdering his wife and son, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to nearly two dozen bank fraud and other financial crimes in which he stole millions of dollars. Murdaugh has appealed his murder convictions, maintains his innocence and is seeking a new trial. Federal Judge Richard Gergel is expected to sentence Murdaugh on the financial crimes at a later date. Murdaugh faces similar financial crime charges in state court and a state trial is scheduled for late November.

Persons: Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Richard, Alex, Murdaugh, Margaret, Paul, Dick Harpootlian, Maggie, Emily Evans Limehouse, he's, Richard Gergel, Rich McKay, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Kirkland, Center, South Carolina Department of Corrections, Handout, REUTERS, South, Prosecutors, United, Thomson Locations: Columbia , South Carolina, U.S, South Carolina, Charleston, Charleston , South Carolina, Atlanta

Murdaugh will admit in federal court that he committed 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering, his attorneys said in court papers filed this week. Murdaugh, 55, is serving life without parole in a South Carolina prison for shooting his wife and son. The federal guilty plea likely locks in years if not decades in prison for the disbarred lawyer, even if his murder conviction and sentence in state court is overturned on appeal. The deal for pleading guilty in federal court is straightforward. Prosecutors will ask that any federal sentence Murdaugh gets will run at the same time as any prison term he serves from a state court.

Persons: Alex Murdaugh, Murdaugh, ___ Collins, Pollard Organizations: Authorities, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: South Carolina, Hampton County, Charleston, Columbia , South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Attorneys for convicted murder Alex Murdaugh want a new trial, accusing the court clerk of improperly influencing the jury. They're accusing the court clerk at his double murder trial of telling jurors not to trust him when he testified in his own defense. They say she also had private conversations with the jury foreperson, and pressured jurors to come to a quick verdict. The request filed by Murdaugh's lawyers on Tuesday also accuses Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill of giving jury members business cards from reporters. Murdaugh's lawyers said Hill's conduct was so egregious, it tainted the entire trial.

Persons: Alex Murdaugh, They're, Rebecca Hill, ” “, Hill, ”, Jim Griffin, Dick Harpootlian, Murdaugh, Murdaugh's, Clifton Newman, “ I’m, “, Hill's Organizations: COLUMBIA, South, South Carolina Court of, Associated Press, Division Locations: Colleton, New York City, South Carolina, Hill, Carolina

☆ South Carolina attorney Murdaugh appeals conviction of murdering wife, son
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Industry Insight | What A Law Firm Client Development Manager Says About Client Listening Programs | Sarah Thompson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 9 (Reuters) - Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, the South Carolina lawyer convicted last week of murdering his wife and son, appealed his conviction and life sentence on Thursday, according to court records. Murdaugh, 54, a member of a powerful South Carolina family, was found guilty on March 2 on two counts of shooting his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, on their family estate on June 7, 2021. For decades until 2006, Murdaugh family members served as the leading prosecutor in the area, and Murdaugh was a prominent personal injury attorney in the state. Murdaugh's lawyers tried to paint their client as a loving family man who, while facing financial difficulties and a drug addiction, would never harm his wife and child. Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

On Thursday a South Carolina jury declared Murdaugh, 54, guilty on two counts of gunning down his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22 on their family estate on June 7, 2021. Murdaugh, the scion of an influential legal family in an area west of Charleston, faces 30 years to life in prison for each of the two counts of murder under South Carolina law. After listening to testimony over five weeks, the jury took only three hours to deliberate before reaching their verdict. The case has drawn intense media coverage given the family's immense political power in and around Colleton County, where the trial took place. Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed Murdaugh as a serial liar and argued that only he had the means and the opportunity to commit the murders.

March 2 (Reuters) - Lawyers for disbarred South Carolina attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh will deliver closing arguments on Thursday, their last chance to convince the jury that their client was not involved in the grisly murders of his wife and youngest son. For decades until 2006, family members served as the leading prosecutor in the area, and Murdaugh was a prominent personal injury attorney in the state. Murdaugh changed his account after the jury listened to audio evidence placing him at the scene of the crime minutes before it occurred. Murdaugh said he initially lied to investigators because of paranoia tied to his drug habit and mistrust of the police. Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

March 1 (Reuters) - Closing arguments are set to start on Wednesday in the trial of Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, the now-disbarred South Carolina lawyer charged with gunning down his wife and son in a complex and grisly case that has garnered international attention. Newman said he expected the jury would be back in court for closing arguments around 11 a.m. Murdaugh, who has said he had nothing to do with the murders, faces 30 years to life in prison if he is found guilty. In addition to the murders, Murdaugh has been charged with dozens of financial crimes, including an alleged scheme to have himself killed so that his older son, Buster, could collect a $10 million insurance payout. During the trial, Murdaugh admitted to stealing from clients and his law firm.

[1/2] Alex Murdaugh gives testimony in his murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, U.S., February 23, 2023. Grace Beahm Alford/Pool via USA TODAY NETWORK via REUTERSFeb 27 (Reuters) - Four final defense witnesses are set to take the stand on Monday in the double murder trial of disbarred South Carolina lawyer Richard "Alex" Murdaugh before his attorneys rest their case, with jury deliberations on track to begin later in the week. Murdaugh's lawyers said they planned to question four additional witnesses before resting their case in the early afternoon on Monday. That would be followed by closing arguments and the judge instructing the jury, which could happen on Tuesday or Wednesday, Murdaugh defense attorney Dick Harpootlian said in court on Friday. The case has drawn intense media coverage given the political influence of the Murdaugh family in South Carolina.

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Prosecutors will cross examine Richard "Alex" Murdaugh for a second day on Friday, one day after the disbarred South Carolina attorney took the stand and denied any involvement in the murder of his wife and son but admitted to lying to investigators. Waters told the judge that he stil had some financial matters to go over before tackling the "other evidence". He said would likely need three to four hours to finish cross examination when court resumes on Friday at 9:30 a.m. Murdaugh, 54, testified that he lied because he was suffering from paranoia tied to a years-long addiction to opiods, and did not trust the police. Murdaugh, the scion of an influential South Carolina legal family, was indicted by a grand jury in July on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in connection with the shootings.

"I didn’t shoot my wife or my son anytime, ever," Murdaugh said from the stand. Murdaugh, the scion of an influential South Carolina legal family, was indicted by a grand jury in July on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in connection with the shootings. Murdaugh said he was suffering from paranoia tied to a drug addiction and did not trust the police. Murdaugh testified that he left the kennels after removing a chicken from the mouth of Bubba, one of their dogs. Rocking back and forth and with tears running down his face, Murdaugh said he returned to the kennels and found his wife and son motionless and disfigured.

☆ Both sides portend 'gruesome' details of the killings of Alex Murdaugh’s wife and son in trial's opening statements
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | Phil Mccausland | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Paul Murdaugh was shot with buckshot from a 12-gauge shotgun in the chest, shoulder and finally the head, which did "devastating damage," Waters said. Margaret Murdaugh was shot with the rifle in the abdomen and leg before being shot in the head. It did grow gruesome as Murdaugh's lawyer, Dick Harpootlian, in his opening arguments detailed the grisly state of Paul and Margaret's bodies after they were shot. Members of Murdaugh’s family, including his older son, Buster, 26, and his brothers John Marvin and Randy Murdaugh were all present for the opening statements on Wednesday. His troubles grew worse when his son Paul was involved in a deadly boat crash in 2019, which led to the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach.

On the night that Alex Murdaugh's wife and son would be fatally shot on the grounds of their rural estate in Colleton County, South Carolina, the 22-year-old sent out a video on Snapchat to several friends. Newman is expected to hear arguments on the motions once the jury of 12 plus six alternates is seated. Newman has already ordered representatives from Snapchat, as well as Google, to be subpoenaed to testify at the trial to attest to evidence on electronic devices. Besides potential digital evidence, forensics may also play a key part during the trial. There is DNA from the victims on Murdaugh's shirt, but his defense said that was the result of coming into contact with their bodies, which were lying near dog kennels on the property.

But the perceived spectacle means that not only will Murdaugh be on display — so will the county seat of Walterboro, population 5,460. “We didn’t want this, but it’s happening, and it’s here,” Scott Grooms, Walterboro’s director of tourism and downtown development, said last week. A portrait of Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr., Alex Murdaugh's late grandfather, was removed from the Colleton County Courthouse ahead of Alex Murdaugh's trial. From left, Paul, Margaret and Alex Murdaugh. While he didn’t know Alex Murdaugh personally, he said few with longstanding ties in the area had not been touched by the Murdaughs’ orbit in one way or another.

☆ South Carolina lawyer accused of killing family indicted for tax evasion
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Tyler Clifford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Alex Murdaugh, 54, the scion of a South Carolina legal dynasty, is accused of willful attempt to evade state taxes on millions of dollars in income between 2011 and 2019. The new charges are in addition to dozens of state charges, including embezzlement and murder, brought by a Colleton County grand jury. Murdaugh is accused of fraudulently making nearly $7 million, which was left off on annual tax filings with the state, according to the indictment. He is suspected of skipping out on more than $486,800 in payments owed to South Carolina. He faces two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon in connection with the murders.

Then, in 2019, Paul Murdaugh was involved in a boat crash that resulted in injuries and claimed the life of a 19-year-old passenger, Mallory Beach. Waters said that the plaintiffs were expecting to get a "personal recovery" from Murdaugh, whose financial situation was growing increasingly bleaker. via FacebookState grand jury subpoenas had been issued in the boat crash case in 2021, and at the time of the killings of Margaret and Paul Murdaugh on June 7, Paul Murdaugh was facing trial. The bodies of the wife and son were discovered by Alex Murdaugh at the family's hunting estate in rural Islandton, about 65 miles west of Charleston. But with the death of his wife and son, Murdaugh benefited because his law firm halted its questioning and a hearing in the boat case was canceled, according to Waters.

☆ Alex Murdaugh's banker convicted for role in alleged scheme to steal money from clients' legal settlements
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Former Palmetto State Bank CEO Russell Laffitte was allowed to remain free on bail as he awaits sentencing at a later date. Former Palmetto State Bank CEO Russell Laffitte exits federal court in Charleston, S.C. on Sept. 6. Laffitte loaned Murdaugh and himself money from those settlements, diverting that money from personal injury or death cases. An employee at Laffitte’s bank testified she confronted Murdaugh about missing fees from one of his cases hours before the killings. More than a third of the witnesses in Laffitte’s trial were his relatives, with most of them testifying for prosecutors.

Hours later, his firm — Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth & Detrickhe — releases its own statement alleging Murdaugh had misappropriated company funds. Jan. 21, 2022A grand jury indicts Murdaugh on 23 new charges, including breach of trust with fraudulent intent and computer crimes. Jan. 24, 2022A legal claim is filed against the estates of Margaret and Paul Murdaugh by the mother of Mallory Beach, 19, who was killed in a boat crash in 2019. May 4, 2022Prosecutors announce that Murdaugh is facing four new charges related to financial crimes also involving Fleming and others. July 14, 2022A grand jury announces an indictment against Murdaugh on double murder charges in the deaths of Margaret and Paul.

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