Alex Murdaugh trial latest: Prosecution finds ‘significant disputes’ in convicted murderer’s jury tampering claims
Follow updates after convicted killer appears in court on financial fraud charges
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Prosecutors have responded to Alex Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial on the grounds of jury tampering allegations at his murder trial, stating that South Carolina investigators have found “significant factual disputes” with the claims.
The response filed on Friday by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson concedes a hearing may be needed to decide if the killer should get a new trial - but moved to dismiss the motion for a “procedural defect” in the filing.
It’s the state’s first response to the bombshell motion filed by Murdaugh’s attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian last week that accused Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill of pressuring jurors to return a guilty verdict.
An investigation was launched by the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which the AG claims is still ongoing, but has said has “revealed significant factual disputes as to claims in (Murdaugh’s) motion.”
On Thursday, a smiling Murdaugh appeared in court for the first time since he was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul, this time to face a string of financial fraud charges.
Judge Clifton Newman set a trial date for 27 November.
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Outrage as South Carolina lawmaker stands to shake hands with convicted killer Alex Murdaugh
Social media users were outraged watching Alex Murdaugh’s first court appearance since his double murder conviction when he was warmly greeted by a South Carolina state representative.
Mandy Matney, who has closely tracked Murdaugh’s case for her podcast, screenshotted the moment and was incredulous on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“WOW.... this is @RepRutherford — who works for the PEOPLE OF SC — STANDING UP TO GREET murderer Alex Murdaugh in court today,” she wrote.
“These people are unreal. They don’t even hide their gross alliances. VOTE THEM OUT.”
Democrat Todd Rutherford, who represents South Carolina House District 74, and is the leader of the party in that chamber, stood, smiled and warmly shook the hand of Murdaugh.
"My heart bleeds for you bc I have no doubt the quality of human being you are ... but you must suffer the consequences" ... CORY FLEMING SENTENCED TO A CONCURRENT 10 YEARS IN STATE PRISON PLUS 10 YEARS CONSECUTIVE TO THE SENTENCE HE'S SERVING NOW ... pic.twitter.com/NavVlsf3G6
— Liz Farrell (@elizfarrell) September 14, 2023
Full story: Murdaugh friend and alleged accomplice sentenced for financial fraud crimes
Former attorney Cory Fleming was sentenced to back-to-back 10-year sentences in prison on charges that he conspired with his longtime friend Alex Murdaugh to steal millions of dollars from trusting clients.
Fleming previously pleaded guilty to the financial fraud charges that stem from Murdaugh’s alleged scheme to steal money from the estate of his dead housekeeper Gloria Satterfield. Satterfield died in a fall on the Murdaugh property in 2018.
He was also involved in stealing money from the family of Hakeem Pinckney – a man whose family Murdaugh represented after he was killed in a car crash in 2009.
While Fleming knew Murdaugh was asking him to do wrong, he previously said he didn’t realise the depth of his old friend’s depravity.
Alex Murdaugh’s friend and alleged accomplice sentenced on financial fraud charges
The 54-year-old former attorney is already serving four years in prison after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy charges
Another twist in the Alex Murdaugh double murder case. Did the clerk tamper with the jury?
Alex Murdaugh's double murder case has been full of twists and turns: How did a dog crack the case? Where are the bloody clothes and weapons? And where did all the money Murdaugh is accused of stealing go?
But one of the biggest surprises came on Tuesday, six months after Murdaugh was convicted of killing his wife and son.
Murdaugh's lawyers filed court papers saying he deserves a new trial because elected Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill allegedly tampered with the jury that found him guilty earlier this year.
Prosecutors had 10 days to respond – and that deadline that expires on Friday.
Here's a look at what the next chapter of Murdaugh's case could look like.
Another twist in the Alex Murdaugh double murder case. Did the clerk tamper with the jury?
Alex Murdaugh’s double murder case has been full of twists and turns
Alex Murdaugh is getting the Hollywood treatment - in a new Lifetime movie starring Bill Pullman
Six months after former attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder, the Lifetime Network announced a new movie about the once prominent South Carolina dynasty that came crashing down following a fatal boating accident, a slew of financial crimes and the brutal slayings of his wife and son.
Lifetime’s 500th original movie Murdaugh Murders: The Movie is set to air in a two-night event next month and stepping into the role of the convicted killer is 69-year-old actor Bill Pullman.
First-look images from the movie obtained by Entertainment Weekly - and posted to social media by Lifetime - show a chilling Pullman, his reddish-blonde slicked back, violently grabbing actor Curtis Tweedie, who is portraying his slain son Paul Murdaugh. Lauren Robek plays his wife Maggie.
Andrea Cavallier has more.
Alex Murdaugh is getting the Hollywood treatment - in a new Lifetime movie
Murdaugh Murders: The Movie will air at 8pm on 14 October and 15 October on Lifetime
Clock is ticking for AG to respond to Murdaugh jury tampering allegations
The deadline for the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office to respond to a bombshell motion filed by Alex Murdaugh’s attorneys last week has arrived.
Now the clock is ticking for the AG to respond to the convicted murderer’s demand for a new trial after his legal team accused Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill of pressuring jurors to return a guilty verdict.
The Attorney General’s office must file a reply to the allegations by 15 September.
Here’s what happened at Alex Murdaugh’s hearing on financial crimes
On Thursday, Alex Murdaugh appeared publicly for the first time since his murder trial at a state hearing over the slew of financial crimes.
Murdaugh smiled in court as he sat in an orange jumpsuit, while he occasionally whispered with his attorneys.
Judge Clifton Newman, along with the agreement of the prosecution and defense agreed that Murdaugh will return to court on 27 November for his trial on some of the 101 total charges brought against him.
Murdaugh is expected to plead guilty to theft and wire fraud — possibly marking the first time he will have legally taken responsibility for any of the criminal counts that have piled up since he first reported his family members’ deaths over two years ago.
WATCH: South Carolina state rep greets Murdaugh with a handshake
Some social media users were outraged watching Alex Murdaugh’s first court appearance since his double murder conviction when he was warmly greeted by a South Carolina state representative.
Democrat Todd Rutherford, who represents South Carolina House District 74, and is the leader of the party in that chamber, stood, smiled and warmly shook the hand of Murdaugh.
What happened at the sentencing of Murdaugh’s friend Cory Fleming?
Cory Fleming, a college friend of Murdaugh’s, appeared in the same Beaufort County courtroom later that day where he was sentenced.
Fleming got a 10-year state prison term that will run alongside a federal sentence and another 10-year state prison term that will run consecutively.
He had pleaded guilty last month to 23 state charges that he helped steal millions of dollars in settlements from the sons of the family’s housekeeper Gloria Satterfield.
The former attorney had recently been sentenced to nearly four years in prison on similar federal charges.
State prosecutor Creighton Waters said Fleming “should not get buy-one-get-one-free” and sought consecutive state sentences. The state court needs to have a say, too, he said.
The defense said Fleming’s 29 years of upstanding legal work documented by other lawyers’ testimony should not be overshadowed by a “lapse in judgment.”
Fleming apologized to the families and profession whose trust he said he betrayed.
“Despite knowing this firsthand, I made some very bad decisions and broke the law,” Fleming added.
SEE IT: Netflix drops trailer for new season of ‘Murdaugh Murders’
Netflix dropped the trailer for season two of “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” on the day Alex Murdaugh appeared in court for the first time since he was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his wife and son.
Season one focused heavily on the boat accident and the fallout while season two will tell of the June 2021 killings of Paul and Maggie.
The new season can be streamed starting on Netflix on 20 September.