WALTERBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA: Alex Murdaugh, a disgraced South Carolina lawyer who was convicted of killing his wife and son, has a “very, very strong” case for his innocence, according to his high-profile defence attorney Dick Harpootlian.
Harpootlian told Fox News in Orlando that the jury was biased by the weeks of testimony on Murdaugh’s unrelated fraud, theft and grift crimes, which he admitted to.
Alex Murdaugh's lawyer claims 'prejudice'
Alex Murdaugh's attorney said, “That jury had heard almost three weeks of evidence not related to the murder, but to the financial crimes, which he’s always admitted to."
Harpootlian continued, “But we believe it so prejudiced them that when we put the forensic evidence in, which is very, very strong for his innocence, acquittal, they didn’t hear it.”
He added, “So this idea he’s been convicted is a misconception, that he was convicted on the evidence relating to the murders."
Murdaugh, 55, reported finding his wife Maggie, 52, and their youngest son Paul, 22, shot dead near the dog kennels on their family estate on June 7, 2021.
Why are Alex Murdaugh's lawyers appealing for conviction?
Murdaugh’s lawyers have appealed the conviction and filed a motion for a new trial, alleging jury tampering by Colleton County Court Clerk Rebecca Hill.
Hill is accused of influencing jurors to reach a quick guilty verdict and removing a juror who favoured the defence.
“We want them to stay the appeal and let us have a hearing on that issue,” Harpootlian said.
“We just finished the filing on that yesterday. So we hope to hear something when two to four weeks in the court of appeals about that.”
Alex Murdaugh admitted to fraud
Earlier this year, Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison for killing his son and wife.
He also admitted in federal court last week that he had embezzled millions from his former clients.
The case drew national attention and prompted state investigators to reopen the 2015 death of Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old who was allegedly killed by Murdaugh’s son, Buster Murdaugh.
Murdaugh’s son was facing trial for a fatal boat crash in 2019 that claimed the life of 19-year-old Mallory Beach and injured others.
