Court overturns Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions and orders new trial

A South Carolina court has overturned the 2023 murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh, a disgraced lawyer who was convicted of killing his wife and son.

The state's supreme court on Wednesday ordered a new trial for Murdaugh over the June 2021 killings.

Murdaugh has been in prison serving two life sentences for the murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh and an additional 40 years for federal financial crimes.

Once a powerful lawyer, the 56-year-old and his legal troubles have captivated a global audience and inspired documentaries, podcasts and book deals. The trial itself was also televised.

In a 5-0 ruling, the South Carolina Supreme Court said Murdaugh deserved a new trial because the local county clerk had unfairly biased a jury against him.

"Both the State and Murdaugh's defense skillfully presented their cases to the jury as the trial court deftly presided over this complicated and high-profile matter," the justices wrote. "However, their efforts were in vain because Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury."

The ruling cites a number of comments that Hill allegedly made to jurors during the trial.

One juror wrote in an affidavit that Hill made comments telling jurors to "watch [Murdaugh] closely", which she said influenced her to find Murdaugh guilty because she thought the clerk was implying he was.

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