Disgraced legal scion Alex Murdaugh is seeking a second murder trial based on "newly discovered evidence" that he claims wasn't presented to a jury before his double-murder conviction in March.
Attorneys for the convicted killer, 57, have announced a press conference for Tuesday afternoon, where they will outline their strategy for overturning Murdaugh's double life sentence for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.
Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, who represented Murdaugh at his trial earlier this year, have not provided specific details about the new evidence they plan to present.
The press conference will take place at the South Carolina State House grounds near the Court of Appeals, where Murdaugh's attorneys filed their request for a retrial just over six months after losing his murder case.
In March, a jury found Murdaugh guilty of fatally shooting Maggie and Paul at their family hunting lodge in June 2021. He was sentenced to two life sentences the day after the verdict.
While behind bars, Murdaugh has reportedly been enjoying his "celebrity" status, responding to fan mail, playing video games, and watching television. However, his behavior and disregard for prison rules have allegedly caused friction with prison officials.
Officials at the McCormick Correctional Institution revealed that Murdaugh had a disciplinary hearing last week for violating policies on giving news interviews and using another inmate's PIN number to make a call.
According to reports, Murdaugh first read information to Griffin, who recorded their conversation and provided it to the media. When prison guards discovered this, Murdaugh's tablet and phone were immediately confiscated. He then allegedly stole another inmate's PIN number to make additional phone calls.
As a result of the disciplinary hearing, the disbarred attorney has lost telephone and canteen privileges for 30 days.
Last week, Murdaugh's surviving son Buster, 26, broke his silence, asserting that he does not believe his father killed his brother and mother. In an interview with Fox Nation, Buster claimed to have a unique perspective and emphasized the love he witnessed within the family.
Buster also addressed allegations linking him to the death of his schoolmate Stephen Smith in 2015 and denied any involvement, stating, "I never had anything to do with his murder and I never had anything to do with him on a physical level of any regard."
Murdaugh's trial earlier this year garnered international attention as shocking details emerged, including allegations that Alex embezzled millions of dollars from his clients.
Buster criticized the trial as unfair, suggesting that public outcry over the crimes may have influenced the outcome. He described the proceedings as a "tilted table" and expressed dissatisfaction with the police and judge, claiming they had a "crappy motive." Buster also questioned the fairness of the jury's unanimous guilty verdict, suggesting that their preconceived notions influenced their decision.
He believes that the jury's perception of his father's guilt was shaped by "everything they had the ability to read prior to the trial."
Murdaugh's attorneys' press conference aims to shed light on the "newly discovered evidence" that they believe will warrant a retrial. As the legal battle continues, the public awaits further details regarding the defense's strategy and the potential implications for Murdaugh's conviction.
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