Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh is still in the business of fighting for his freedom as he returned to court in a bid to prove jury tampering during the case.
Murdaugh’s attorneys had asked for a new trial, alleging the court clerk tampered with the jury that found him guilty almost 11 months ago.
Ale was sentenced to two life sentences last year for killing his wife and son, and will not receive a new murder trial, a judge ruled Monday.
Judge Jean Toal, in announcing her decision as Murdaugh sat in orange prison clothes, ruled that whatever comments the clerk made to the jury did not influence the decision-making for a case. “
“I simply do not believe that the authority of our South Carolina Supreme Court requires a new trial in a very lengthy trial such as this on the strength of some fleeting and foolish comments by a publicity-influenced clerk of courts,” the judge, a retired justice on the state’s high court, said.
Before leaving the bench and adjourning for the day, Toal said, “Now that I’ve read the record, I say as the successive trial judge that the evidence was overwhelming and the jury verdict not surprising.”
Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh say they would go to the court of appeal.
“We go from here to Court of Appeals, then South Carolina Supreme Court, if necessary – and then federal court,” Murdaugh attorney Dick Harpootlian told CNN.
“It’s either going to be decided, in my opinion, in our favor in the appellate court or five years down the road in federal court – unless they change the federal law,” Murdaugh attorney Jim Griffin said.
