Oct. 16 (UPI) — Former Hampton County, S.C., attorney Alex Murdaugh was back in court on Friday for a status hearing ahead of his retrial next year.
South Carolina Judge Debra R. McCaslin heard disputes between the prosecution and defense over evidence to be shared prior to the retrial. Evidence in question included cellphone data from Maggie Murdaught and Paul Murdaugh’s phones, information about a law enforcement officer with ties to the Murdaugh family and discussion of possible alternate suspects.
McCaslin said during the hearing “the court shouldn’t even be involved in this at all,” urging both parties to work out disclosures of evidence with each other.
“To be honest with you, I don’t care what happened in the first trial,” McCaslin said. “Quit telling me about stuff you all did to each other during the first trial. I don’t care. We’re not going to do that this go-around.”
The retrial is set to be held in Sumter County, S.C.
Alex Murdaugh’s attorneys seek to have the prosecution reveal more evidence ahead of the retrial, including a report on local police’s handling of the murder weapons.
The defense has requested to move forward with more DNA testing on samples found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails and it seeks to obtain ballistic reports from the scene.
Alex Murdaugh was convicted in 2023 for the 2021 murder of his wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, at their home in Colleton County, S.C.
Murdaugh was sentenced to two life sentences for murder. However, the conviction and sentence were vacated by the state supreme court after it found Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill may have influenced the jury in the first trial.
Murdaugh remains held in prison for state and federal financial crimes for stealing millions of dollars from clients and others. Those crimes have been linked as a motive in the killings.
Hill pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury and misconduct for sharing court-sealed information about the trial with the press. Concerns about her conduct around the trial were raised after she co-authored a book about the trial while it was ongoing.