Judge to question jurors in Murdaugh’s bid for retrial

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh’s bid for a retrial will go before former South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal on Monday, where she is set to question the jurors who rendered Murdaugh’s guilty verdict, and the clerk of court accused of jury tampering.

One of those jurors went before Judge Toal on Friday due to a scheduling conflict; however, details from that hearing were embargoed until after Monday’s hearing begins.

Murdaugh and his defense team have accused Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill of tampering with the jury during last year’s six-week trial, swaying the jury to find Murdaugh guilty of killing his wife, Margaret, and youngest son, Paul at their family’s sprawling Colleton County property in June 2021.

In a hearing earlier this month, Judge Toal ruled Murdaugh’s defense team would have the burden of proving there was influence on the jury from Hill, which led them to vote against Murdaugh.

Attorney Ronnie Richter, who represents some of the jury members, told News that Judge Toal will be asking pointed questions to determine if Hill had interactions with jury members, and if so, did they truly impact the outcome of the jury’s guilty verdict.

“It’s team Murdaugh that has to show not only was it said, not only that it was wrong, but that it affected the outcome. And I think that is going to be a tough domino to have fall. If the jurors stand by their verdicts and all affirm that it is what they intended to do, free of influence, then the result will not be overturned,” he said.

The hearing for a new murder trial is scheduled to last through Wednesday, but Richter said it could move along a lot quicker depending on juror responses.