South Carolina Supreme Court overturns Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions over improper conduct by court official, orders new trial

The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for Alex Murdaugh in the murders of his wife and son, ruling that he was denied the right to a fair trial due to improper conduct by a court official.

On Wednesday, the court determined that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill had exerted “improper external influences on the jury,” warranting a new trial in the high-profile murder case. “Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice,” the court unanimously ruled. The court also described Hill’s conduct as “shocking,” citing her interference after suggesting to jurors that they could not trust Murduagh’s testimony during the trial.

Murdaugh’s team celebrated the decision, with his lawyers saying in a statement, “We look forward to a new trial conducted consistent with the Constitution and the guidance this Court has provided.”

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said he disagreed with the court’s decision and said he would "aggressively seek to retry" Murdaugh "as soon as possible."

“No one is above the law and, as always, we will continue to fight for justice,” Wilson said, according to NBC News.

Murdaugh was convicted in 2023 for the murders of his wife, Margaret, and his 22-year-old son, Paul. Prosecutors argued that Murdaugh carried out the killings as a distraction from mounting scrutiny over financial crimes that threatened to damage his reputation.

A jury convicted him on two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, to which he pleaded not guilty. In addition to his murder conviction, Murdaugh is currently serving a 40-year federal sentence and a concurrent 27-year sentence after pleading guilty in separate financial crimes cases.

Meanwhile, Hill pleaded guilty last year to criminal charges related to showing sealed court exhibits to a photographer and lying in court about it.