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South Carolina court tosses murder conviction in Alex Murdaugh case
TL;DR
The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned Alex Murdaugh's murder conviction and ordered a retrial. Murdaugh was accused of killing his wife and son in 2021 and has denied involvement.
Key points
- South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh's murder conviction
- A retrial has been ordered for Alex Murdaugh's case
- Murdaugh was accused of murdering his wife and son in 2021
- The court criticized the Colleton County court clerk's conduct
- Clerk's comments influenced the juror pool
Mentioned in this story
Alex MurdaughMaggie MurdaughPaul MurdaughSouth Carolina Supreme CourtColleton County court
The state Supreme Court in South Carolina has overturned the murder conviction against lawyer Alex Murdaugh, whose case has become a source of public fascination in the United States.
On Wednesday, the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously ordered a retrial in Murdaugh’s 2023 murder case.
The lawyer had been accused of murdering his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and his 22-year-old son, Paul, who were found shot to death at the dog kennels outside the family lodge in June 2021. Murdaugh, 57, has denied any involvement in their killings.
In its ruling, the South Carolina Supreme Court criticised the Colleton County court clerk, Rebecca Hill, for having “egregiously attacked Murdaugh’s credibility” in court and thereby swaying the juror pool.
The court’s decision highlighted comments in which Hill advised jurors to watch Murdaugh’s “body language” and “not to be fooled” by his lawyer’s evidence.
“Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury,” the justices said.
“We have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial due to Hill’s improper external influence on the jury.”
The justices also pointed to Hill’s book, entitled Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders, as evidence that she had not properly carried out the duties of her office.
“As her book’s title suggests, it turns out Hill was quite busy behind the doors of justice, thwarting the integrity of the justice system she was sworn to protect and uphold,” the justices wrote in Wednesday’s ruling.
The book was later unpublished after plagiarism charges emerged. Separately, in 2025, Hill herself pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury and misconduct while in office.
Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Mary Rebecca ‘Becky’ Hill pleaded guilty on December 8, 2025, to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice [File: Jeffrey Collins/AP Photo]
The state Supreme Court also ruled that the judge in the initial murder trial had allowed unrelated evidence to be presented in the murder trial, including details about Murdaugh’s financial crimes.
Q&A
Why did the South Carolina Supreme Court overturn Alex Murdaugh's conviction?
The court criticized the Colleton County court clerk for undermining Murdaugh's credibility, which influenced the juror pool.
What were the charges against Alex Murdaugh?
Alex Murdaugh was accused of murdering his wife, Maggie, and his son, Paul, who were found dead in June 2021.
What is the significance of the retrial in the Murdaugh case?
The retrial allows for a fresh examination of the evidence and the potential for a different outcome in a highly publicized case.
What comments did the court clerk make that affected the trial?
The court clerk advised jurors to observe Murdaugh's body language and suggested they should not be misled by his lawyer's evidence.
