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Alex Murdaugh’s second murder trial will start next spring, judge rules
Defense lawyers seek a venue change and new DNA testing as the state Supreme Court’s reversal sends Alex Murdaugh back to trial.
- On Monday, Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin scheduled Alex Murdaugh's retrial for April 5, 2027, during a pretrial hearing in Lexington County courthouse that drew dozens of media outlets.
- Last month, the South Carolina Supreme Court vacated Murdaugh's murder convictions, ruling that former clerk Becky Hill's comments to jurors were "improper" and tainted the 2023 trial.
- Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian filed pretrial motions requesting a change of venue, independent DNA testing of evidence from Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails, and a "secure laptop computer" for trial preparation.
- Clashing over security, the defense called the prosecution's concerns "histrionics" and "inappropriate," while prosecutor Creighton Waters argued standard restraints are necessary for imprisoned defendants.
- Imprisoned on concurrent state and federal sentences of 27 and 40 years for stealing about $12 million, Murdaugh awaits retrial while his defense argues the Fourteenth Circuit cannot provide an impartial jury.
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left2Leaning Right1Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution77% Center
Bias Distribution
- 77% of the sources are Center
77% Center
15%
C 77%
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