Alex Murdaugh murder convictions overturned due to jury tampering
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Alex Murdaugh, the disgraced South Carolina jurist convicted of murdering his wife and son, is getting a second chance in court after the state’s highest court overturned his murder conviction due to jury tampering.
The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that misconduct by a court official tainted the 2023 trial that sentenced Murdaugh to life in prison.
At the center of the stunning comeback is former Colleton County Court Clerk Rebecca “Becky” Hill, who oversaw the blockbuster trials and was later accused of improperly influencing jurors. Hill made comments that could have changed how jurors evaluated the evidence and pushed them toward a guilty verdict, the court heard.
Alex Murdaugh is brought into the courtroom during a jury trial on Monday, January 29, 2024, at the Richland County Judicial Center in Columbia, SC. (Andrew J. Whitaker/Mail and Courier)
Jurors said Hill told them to “watch him closely,” “watch his movements” and “not be fooled” by the defense, according to testimony reviewed by the court.
ALEX MURDAUGH’S DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTION UNANIMOUSLY REVERSED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT
One juror recalled that “Hill told jurors not to be fooled by the evidence presented by Murdaugh’s defense,” according to the document, adding: “They will say things that will try to confuse you. Don’t let them confuse you, persuade you, or throw you off.”
The documents say Hill’s “attempt to insert himself into the jury’s deliberations through these comments was consistent with his stated desire for a guilty verdict to sell more copies of the book he planned to write.”
WATCH: Becky Hill enters the Colleton County Courthouse
ALEX MURDAUGH: A TIMELINE OF THE SPECTACULAR FALL OF THE ONCE-POWERFUL SOUTH CAROLINA LAWYER
The decision cites the court’s post-trial finding that “Hill was influenced by the siren call of celebrity” and “allowed his desire for immediate public attention to overcome his duty to take the oath of office.”
GOT A TIP?
“Accordingly, we believe that Murdaugh’s right to a fair trial by an impartial jury was violated and that the post-trial court erred in denying his request for a new trial,” the decision states.
Former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill died on December 8, 2025 in St. Matthews smiled after pleading guilty in SC. Hill pleaded guilty to showing sealed exhibits from Alex Murdaugh’s murder case and other charges. (Jeffrey Collins/AP)
Because Hill is a senior court official, his words carried unusual weight, raising serious concerns that the jury’s verdict was not based solely on the evidence presented at trial.
Hill pleaded guilty in December 2025 to four charges: obstruction of justice and perjury for showing sealed photographs exhibited in court to a reporter and then lying about it, as well as two counts of misconduct in office for receiving bonuses and promoting a book he wrote about the case through public office.
AG AIMS TO ‘QUICKLY’ TRY ALEX MURDAUGH AGAIN; THE TWO PARTIES ARE ENTERING A COURT CHESS MATCH WITH EACH OTHER’S GAME PLANS
In his statement read to the court, Hill said, “There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I am ashamed of them and I will carry this shame for the rest of my life.” he said.
There is no excuse for the mistakes I made.
GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL
He was sentenced to three years probation.
WATCH: Becky Hill reads Alex Murdaugh’s 2023 guilty verdict
In 2023, Murdaugh was convicted of shooting and killing his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at the family’s hunting preserve in 2021. The case exposed a series of lies, including Murdaugh’s opioid addiction and millions in stolen client funds.
Despite Wednesday’s legal victory, Murdaugh will not be freed. He remains behind bars, serving long prison sentences for a series of financial crimes that cemented his fall from power.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Alex Murdaugh is handcuffed after being found guilty of all four charges, including two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, on March 2, 2023, at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro. (Andrew J. Whitaker/Mail and Courier)
Murdaugh was sentenced to 27 years in state court after pleading guilty to 22 charges for his financial crimes, including money laundering and criminal breach of trust. He was sentenced in federal court to 40 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, which he is serving concurrently with the state term.
Although his murder convictions and subsequent life sentences were overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday, he remains in prison serving financial penalties.
Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
