Alex Murdaugh's double murder conviction unanimously overturned by South Carolina Supreme Court
The unanimous ruling found clerk Becky Hill made improper comments to jurors during the 2023 trial
By Peter D'Abrosca Fox News
Published May 13, 2026 10:48am EDT | Updated May 13, 2026 11:14am EDT
The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the murder conviction of Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted in March 2023 of double homicide of his wife and son.
The court ordered a new trial, saying that Mary Rebecca "Becky" Hill, who served as the court clerk in Colleton County, exercised "improper external influences" during Murdaugh's first trial.
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," their ruling said.
A post-trial court found that Hill "made improper comments to the jurors on the day Murdaugh testified, e.g., 'this is an important day' or 'this is an epic day' and that they should watch Murdaugh's body language, on the day he testified in his own defense.
One juror recalled "that Hill told the jurors not to be fooled by the evidence Murdaugh's defense presented," according to the document, saying "They're going to say things that will try to confuse you. Don't let them confuse you or convince you or throw you off."
The documents say Hill tried to "insert herself into the jury's deliberations through these comments was in line with her stated desire for a guilty verdict to sell more copies of the book she planned to write."
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