Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Alex Murdaugh's defense seeks new trial based on claims of jury tampering
NBC News ^ | 5 September 2023 | Haylee Barber and Erik Ortiz

Posted on 09/06/2023 2:20:15 AM PDT by NautiNurse

WALTERBORO, S.C. — Lawyers for convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh filed a motion Tuesday seeking a new trial, alleging they had uncovered evidence of jury tampering.

Rebecca Hill, the Colleton County 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," attorneys Richard "Dick" Harpootlian and Jim Griffin claim in the motion.

Harpootlian said at a news conference Tuesday that they collected sworn testimony from two jurors and interviewed a third to learn that Hill, an elected official serving her first term, had had "improper, private communications" with some jurors outside the courtroom.

"They're not someone who should ever talk about the case," Harpootlian said of the clerk. "I've never heard it happen, and I've been doing this a very long time."

The latest legal twist comes six months after a jury found Murdaugh, 55, guilty of two counts of murder in the fatal shootings of his wife, Margaret, 52, and their youngest son, Paul, 22, in June 2021.

Two sources familiar with the motion said at least two of the jurors have hired lawyers.

[Snip]

"Ms. Hill did these things to secure for herself a book deal and media appearances that would not happen in the event of a mistrial," the motion says. "Ms. Hill betrayed her oath of office for money and fame." <[Snip]




Mags, PawPaw, Alex


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: mags; murdaugh; pawpaw; trial
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last
Pundits declare that if true, the defense has a good case for retrial.
1 posted on 09/06/2023 2:20:15 AM PDT by NautiNurse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SE Mom

He’s Baaaaaack! Elic is hankering for a new trial.


2 posted on 09/06/2023 2:21:32 AM PDT by NautiNurse (🇺🇸 Selling out the U.S.A.: The Briben Brand™)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse

If she did do it, how does anyone know whether or not the defendant got her to do it to create grounds for a mistrial?


3 posted on 09/06/2023 3:42:22 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

That adds another possible twist to the plot. I was surprised to learn the court clerk wrote a book already.


4 posted on 09/06/2023 3:54:40 AM PDT by NautiNurse (🇺🇸 Selling out the U.S.A.: The Briben Brand™)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse

He has so much money for lawyers, so they will come up with all sorts of things like this.


5 posted on 09/06/2023 3:58:14 AM PDT by xxqqzz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse
That adds another possible twist to the plot. I was surprised to learn the court clerk wrote a book already

Whoa!

And I thought things were corrupt in my home state.

What a convoluted mess.

6 posted on 09/06/2023 4:00:45 AM PDT by icclearly
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse

Here’s a link to the book that specifies the publisher...

https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Doors-Justice-Murdaugh-Murders/dp/B0CCCN5WQ5

Wind River Media, LLC.

Well, that’s a clue right there, methinks...


7 posted on 09/06/2023 4:09:44 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse

More on the book here, mentions a co-author...

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2023/06/15/rebecca-hill-behind-the-doors-of-justice-true-crime-readers-alex-murdaugh-murder-trial/70317854007/


8 posted on 09/06/2023 4:11:27 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: xxqqzz

A couple of the jurors have hired their own lawyers. And the beat goes on.


9 posted on 09/06/2023 4:27:11 AM PDT by NautiNurse (🇺🇸 Selling out the U.S.A.: The Briben Brand™)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

Thanks for posting the book info.


10 posted on 09/06/2023 4:27:52 AM PDT by NautiNurse (🇺🇸 Selling out the U.S.A.: The Briben Brand™)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: stylecouncilor

ping


11 posted on 09/06/2023 4:31:00 AM PDT by windcliff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse

I don’t doubt for a minute that he did it. It does however sound like he has a new trial coming. The court clerk needs to be arrested too.


12 posted on 09/06/2023 4:37:00 AM PDT by muir_redwoods (Freedom isn't free, liberty isn't liberal and you'll never find anything Right on the Left)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: muir_redwoods

Agree. The court clerk did seem to relish her role in reading the verdicts and hanging out on the balcony during the prosecution’s post-verdict press conference.


13 posted on 09/06/2023 4:40:26 AM PDT by NautiNurse (🇺🇸 Selling out the U.S.A.: The Briben Brand™)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: mewzilla

How would the defendent get her to do it? And if he tried, why would an honorable clerk go along with it?


14 posted on 09/06/2023 5:49:14 AM PDT by vivenne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: xxqqzz

Uh, he has no money. It’s all gone.


15 posted on 09/06/2023 5:51:35 AM PDT by vivenne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse

Court Clerk messed up, must have been the $$$. People do crazy things.


16 posted on 09/06/2023 5:52:49 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: icclearly

Watching the trial it was pretty obvious that things were not entirely kosher. Not sure that Murdaugh is innocent and certainly not a nice guy, but we need the rule of law to prevail for us to hace a fair system abd free society and it doesn’t to be anywhere these days.


17 posted on 09/06/2023 5:54:22 AM PDT by vivenne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse

If only some savvy, wealthy lawyers had been protesting at the Capital on 1/6...


18 posted on 09/06/2023 5:57:08 AM PDT by Demiurge2 (Define your terms!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse
That adds another possible twist to the plot. I was surprised to learn the court clerk wrote a book already.

Same here. Talk about cashing in... very quickly!

19 posted on 09/06/2023 9:49:21 AM PDT by nutmeg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse
Agree. The court clerk did seem to relish her role in reading the verdicts and hanging out on the balcony during the prosecution’s post-verdict press conference.

You noticed that too, huh? ;-)

20 posted on 09/06/2023 9:50:54 AM PDT by nutmeg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson