Judge Denies Alex Murdaugh's Bid for New Double-Murder Trial Following Jury Tampering Allegations
A South Carolina judge has denied Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial after his defense team accused a court clerk of tampering with a jury.
Judge Rules Jury Tampering Did Not Affect Verdict
A South Carolina judge has denied Alex Murdaugh's bid for a new trial after his defense team accused a clerk of court of tampering with a jury. Judge Jean Toal ruled that even if the court clerk did make comments to jurors about watching Murdaugh's actions and body language, the defense failed to prove that these comments directly influenced the jury's decision to find him guilty.
The convicted killer, disbarred attorney, and admitted thief was back in court, but this time it was the jurors who found him guilty of the shooting deaths of his wife and son who were questioned about potential influence from the court clerk. Despite some jurors claiming that the clerk's comments affected their guilty verdict, others stated that they did not hear any comments from the clerk and that their decision was based solely on the evidence presented in court.
Jurors Share Testimony in Jury Tampering Hearing
During the hearing, several jurors were questioned about their recollection of the court clerk's comments. One juror stated that the clerk did tell jurors to watch Murdaugh's actions and made him seem guilty. However, another juror supported a previous statement they had given, indicating that their decision to find Murdaugh guilty was influenced more by their fellow jurors than by the clerk's comments.
Overall, each juror's testimony lasted only a few minutes, with the judge asking the same set of questions to all jurors. The hearing also took an unexpected turn when it was revealed that some jurors had access to Court TV's live feed on their cellphones and had heard the testimony of the first juror.
Challenges Faced by Defense and limited Scope of the Hearing
The hearing was held in response to jury tampering allegations raised by Murdaugh's defense team. However, Judge Toal had set a high standard for the defense to prove potential misconduct and its effect on the jury's verdict. The defense argued that even subtle influences from the court clerk could have impeded Murdaugh's right to a fair trial.
Despite these challenges, the defense was not allowed to call the trial judge, prosecutors, or other court workers as witnesses. Additionally, the scope of the hearing was limited, preventing questions about any criminal investigation into the court clerk and her potential misconduct beyond the alleged jury tampering.
