Key facts
- Alex Murdaugh will attend a pretrial hearing for the murder of his wife and son.
- His previous murder convictions were overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
- The hearing aims to establish deadlines for evidence exchange and schedule future dates.
- Murdaugh's lawyers are seeking permission for him to wear civilian clothes and not be shackled during proceedings.
- Defense motions include private DNA testing and a request to move the trial location.
Alex Murdaugh is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing concerning the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. This appearance follows the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision last month to overturn his previous murder convictions and life sentence. The primary objectives of Monday's hearing are to establish deadlines for the exchange of evidence between the prosecution and defense, and to determine dates for subsequent hearings and a potential retrial.
Murdaugh's legal team has also submitted requests for him to wear civilian attire and to not be shackled during hearings and the upcoming trial, arguing that his presentation as a shackled prisoner is unwarranted given his convictions were for financial crimes. Defense attorneys have further sought permission for private laboratory testing of DNA found under his wife's fingernails and are requesting the trial be moved from Colleton County.
Murdaugh, who has been disbarred, has admitted to financial misconduct, including stealing approximately $12 million from clients and his family's law firm, but has consistently denied committing the murders. He is currently serving a 40-year federal sentence concurrently with a 27-year state sentence for his financial crimes.
The state Supreme Court's decision to overturn the convictions was based on concerns that the initial trial improperly focused on Murdaugh's financial crimes and that a court official may have improperly influenced the jury. The court found that details about Murdaugh's theft from vulnerable clients could have unfairly prejudiced the jury against him.