South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns Alex Murdaugh's Murder Conviction, Orders New Trial

The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the murder conviction of Alex Murdaugh, who was found guilty in March 2023 of killing his wife and son.

The court ordered a new trial. It ruled that Mary Rebecca "Becky" Hill, the Colleton County court clerk during Murdaugh's first trial, exercised "improper external influences" on the jury.

The state supreme court voted unanimously on the decision.

"Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial due to Hill’s improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial," the ruling said.

A post-trial court found that Hill made improper comments to jurors on the day Murdaugh testified. She told them "this is an important day" or "this is an epic day" and said they should watch Murdaugh's body language as he testified in his own defense.

In December, Hill pleaded guilty to four charges. Those included obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a reporter sealed court exhibit photographs and then lying about it. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in office for taking bonuses and promoting a book she wrote on the trial through her public office.