Alex Murdaugh trial clerk hires lawyers after bombshell jury tampering claims – latest
Murdaugh’s attorneys accused South Carolina Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill of pressuring jurors to return a guilty verdict in his murder trial
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
The court clerk who oversaw the murder trial of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh has hired high-profile lawyers after his attorneys accused her of pressuring jurors to return a guilty verdict against him.
The disgraced legal scion’s attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin filed a motion for a new trial on Tuesday, alleging that Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca “Becky” Hill tampered with the jury because she was driven by fame and a desire to secure a book deal.
Ms Hill has now retained the counsel of State Rep Justin Bamberg and former assistant US attorney Will Lewis.
The clerk has yet to formally respond to the allegations against her and she is not currently facing any criminal charges.
Much of the 65-page motion centres around juror number 785 – who was infamously dismissed from the panel just hours before deliberations began. Judge Clifton Newman removed her for allegedly discussing the case with people outside of the court.
The woman then prompted some light-hearted relief when she asked to pick up her “dozen eggs” from the jury room before she left.
Who is Alex Murdaugh?
Alex Murdaugh was once a powerful figure in Hampton County, South Carolina, where his family has reigned over the local justice system for almost a century.
Three generations of the family – his father, grandfather and great-grandfather – all served as the solicitor in the 14th Judicial Circuit solicitor’s office.
His father Randy held the position until 2006 and was given the highest civilian award the Order of the Palmetto by the South Carolina governor in 2018 for his work. Randy died just three days after Maggie and Paul’s murders.
Due to the Murdaughs’ prominence in the judicial system in the lowcountry, the family held a reputation for being powerful and wielding their influence over matters.
Murdaugh continued with the family tradition working as an attorney in the local prosecutor’s office and also at his own law firm PMPED (the M standing for Murdaugh).
He was married to wife Maggie – whom he met at college - and the couple had two sons Buster and Paul.
After the murders of his wife and son, it transpired that Murdaugh had a two-decade-long opoiod addiction and he checked into rehab in September 2021.
Who was Paul Murdaugh?
Paul Murdaugh, 22, was the younger son of Alex and Maggie Murdaugh who, at the time of his death, was facing trial over the death of Mallory Beach, 19.
On the night of 24 February 2019, Paul was allegedly drunk driving the Murdaugh family’s boat with several of his friends on board.
The boat crashed into some rocks and threw the passengers overboard.
Beach’s body washed up on shore around a week later.
In April 2019, Paul was charged with three felonies over Beach’s death including boating under the influence and was facing up to 25 years in prison.
Paul was shot twice with a shotgun – once in the chest and once in the shoulder.
Investigators in the boat crash case had no choice but to drop the charges when he died. Beach’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Murdaughs – which was finally settled in January 2023.
WATCH: Craziest courthouse moments from the Alex Murdaugh trial
ICYMI: Alex Murdaugh planned a birthday party for his son Paul from jail 10 months after killing him, book claims
Alex Murdaugh allegedly planned a birthday party for his son Paul just 10 months after the disgraced lawyer gunned him down on their property in South Carolina.
Details of the alleged celebration were described in a new book Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders by John Glatt.
Mr Glatt noted in the book that the party was just one of the many efforts Murdaugh made to try and save his reputation and convince the public he did not kill his son and wife Maggie.
Read on here.
Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian: Who are Murdaugh’s attorneys?
On Tuesday, Murdaugh’s attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian will hold a press conference as they file a motion for a new trial. But who are they?
Dick Harpootlian
Dick Harpootlian, 74, was one of Murdaugh’s lead defence attorneys in his murder trial.
Prior to representing Murdaugh, he has had a long career as a prosecutor.
He has prosecuted several high-profile cases including the corruption trial of former University of South Carolina President Jim Holderman and the murder trial of serial killer Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins.
As well as being a prominent lawyer, Mr Harpootlian is also a state senator, representing South Carolina’s 20th district.
Jim Griffin
Jim Griffin, 60, was Murdaugh’s other lead defence attorneys in his murder trial.
Mr Griffin has also had a long career focused predominantly on working as defence attorney in white-collar crime cases.
As well as the murder case, both Mr Harpootlian and Mr Griffin are representing Murdaugh in his slew of other charges including his financial fraud trial.
The duo – who like Murdaugh attended University of South Carolina School of Law – was also previously hired to represent Paul in the boat crash case.
WATCH: Moment Murdaugh was sentenced to life in jail
ICYMI: Alex Murdaugh jail call audio reveals awkward interaction with surviving son Buster
A newly-released jailhouse phone call has offered a glimpse into the state of Alex Murdaugh’s relationship with his surviving son following his conviction for the murders of his wife and second son.
In the call dated 16 May, Murdaugh is heard ringing 26-year-old Buster Murdaugh from the maximum security prison in South Carolina where he will see out the rest of his days.
During the awkward and brief conversation, Murdaugh says he has been trying to call his son and tells him he “loves” him and is “proud” of him.
Read more:
New Alex Murdaugh jail call captures awkward interaction with surviving son Buster
Buster stood by his father throughout his trial for the murders of his mother Maggie and brother Paul
Alex Murdaugh’s defence attorneys claim clerk of court tampered with the jury
Defence attorneys for Alex Murdaugh filed a motion Tuesday demanding a new trial on the basis that Colleton County clerk of court Rebecca “Becky” Hill tampered with the jury.
“During the trial, Ms Hill asked jurors for their opinions about Mr. Murdaugh’s guilt or innocence,” the motion reads.
“Ms Hill invented a story about a Facebook post to remove a juror she believed might not vote guilty.”
The bombshell motion was made in a 65-page filing in the S.C. Court of Appeals and in a letter to the US Attorney Adair Boroughs.
Murdaugh’s attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin allege Ms Hill tampered with the jury by advising them not to believe the former prominent attorney’s testimony and evidence presented by the defence.
“The clerk of court tampered with the jury by advising them not to believe Murdaugh’s testimony and other evidence presented by the defense, pressuring them to reach a quick guilty verdict, and even misrepresenting critical and material information to the trial judge in her campaign to remove a juror she believed to be favorable to the defense,” the filing said.
Court clerk told jurors not to be ‘misled’ by evidence presented in Murdaugh’s defence, motion claims
A motion filed by Alex Murduagh’s defence attorneys on Tuesday alleged that Clerk of Court Rebecca “Becky” Hill tampered with the jury.
“Specifically, during trial....Rebecca Hill instructed jurors not to be ‘misled’ by evidence presented in Mr. Murdaugh’s defense. She told jurors not to be ‘fooled by’ Mr. Murdaugh’s testimony in his own defense.”
When Murdaugh took the stand in his own defence at his trial back in March, Hill allegedly instructed the jury to “watch him closely,” to “look at his actions” and to “look at his movements.”
One of the jurors claimed in an affidavit attached to the complaint that this led them to understand “that Murdaugh was guilty.”
“I understood (this) to mean that Mr. Murdaugh would lie when he testified,” juror No. 630 wrote.
That juror had also been the one who had previously complained about being pressured to deliver a guilty verdict.
“I had questions about Mr. Murdaugh’s guilt but voted guilty because I felt pressured by the other jurors,” the juror wrote in the affidavit.
Alex Murdaugh accuses ‘fame seeking’ court clerk of jury tampering
The disgraced legal scion and convicted killer’s attorneys have accused a South Carolina court clerk of tampering with the jury because she was driven by fame and a desire to secure a book deal.
They filed a motion requesting a new trial on the basis that Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill allegedly pressured jurors on the case.
“During the trial, Ms Hill asked jurors for their opinions about Mr. Murdaugh’s guilt or innocence,” the motion reads.
“Ms Hill invented a story about a Facebook post to remove a juror she believed might not vote guilty.”
Murdaugh’s attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin will reveal details of the motion at a press conference on the grounds of the South Carolina State House near the Court of Appeals in Columbia at 2.30pm local time on Tuesday afternoon.
Read more:
Alex Murdaugh accuses ‘fame seeking’ court clerk of jury tampering at murder trial
Murdaugh’s attorneys will hold press conference on Tuesday afternoon after filing motion for new trial
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.