Headed for Retrial? Alex Murdaugh Defense Claims Official Tampered with Jury, ‘Pressuring Them to Reach a Quick Guilty Verdict’

Attorneys representing convicted double murderer Alex Murdaugh filed a motion requesting a new trial on the grounds that they have uncovered evidence suggesting jury tampering.

On Sept. 5, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin filed a motion claiming jurors have spoken out after South Carolina Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill released her tell-all book about the high-profile trial, which ended with Murdaugh’s conviction, The Independent reported.

Griffin and Harrpootlian said jurors refused to speak with them after the trial's conclusion but broke their silence to express displeasure at Hill’s book.

At a press conference, the attorneys were asked if they ever contacted Hill about possible juror tampering and misconduct and Griffin replied, “Based on the information we received, we thought it would be pointless.”

In the 65-page motion filed by Murdaugh’s attorneys, they claim Hill was “pressuring them [the jury] to reach a quick guilty verdict” so she allegedly could secure a book deal and media appearances, The Independent reported.

“During the trial, Ms. Hill asked jurors for their opinions about Mr. Murdaugh’s guilt or innocence," Murdaugh’s lawyers wrote, adding, "Ms. Hill invented a story about a Facebook post to remove a juror she believed might not vote guilty.”

As Front Page Detectives previously reported, a jury found Alex, 55, guilty of brutally murdering his wife Maggie, 52, and younger son Paul, 22, at the family’s estate in South Carolina on the night of June 7, 2021, and he is currently serving two consecutive life sentences.

Griffin said during the press conference that he is confident Murdaugh will get a new trial.

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According to The Daily Beast, Hill denied the allegations, saying, “It’s totally not true. This is crazy.”