South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson says his office may seek the death penalty if Alex Murdaugh is retried for the 2021 murders of his wife and son after the state Supreme Court reversed his conviction over alleged jury interference.
When South Carolina’s highest court pulled Alex Murdaugh’s double-murder conviction from the books this week, the legal fate of the former attorney quickly shifted from a life sentence to a new set of courtroom possibilities.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said Friday that his office may pursue the death penalty when it retries Murdaugh for the 2021 murders of his son and wife.
“In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, we’re back to square one on this case, and that means all our legal options are on the table, including the death penalty,” Wilson said.
The state Supreme Court reversed Murdaugh’s conviction in an opinion published Wednesday. citing what it described as “egregious” jury interference allegedly involving a former court clerk.. The unanimous decision pointed to comments that former Colleton County Clerk of Courts Becky Hill allegedly made to jurors during Murdaugh’s 2023 trial.
One allegation cited in the opinion included Hill’s suggestion that the jury shouldn’t be “fooled” by evidence presented by Murdaugh’s attorneys. The court also said Hill acknowledged telling the jury “a little talk” about Murdaugh’s decision to testify.
Hill, who has previously pleaded guilty to perjury, misconduct and obstruction charges tied to the Murdaugh case, denied trying to influence jurors, according to the opinion. NBC News was unable to reach Hill for comment.
Wilson said he disagrees with the high court’s ruling and described Hill’s alleged conduct as inappropriate but “ultimately harmless.” Still, he told reporters prosecutors plan to quickly retry the case.
Murdaugh’s lawyers signaled they are preparing for a fight on different terms. They said they respect the state Supreme Court’s decision and “look forward to a new trial conducted consistent with the Constitution and the guidance this Court has provided.”
In an interview with NBC News, the attorneys also said Murdaugh will not accept a plea agreement “under any circumstances.” Attorney Jim Griffin said Murdaugh “will ‘never plead guilty of killing his wife and son,’” adding, “I promise.”
Murdaugh, 57, has maintained his innocence in the killings of his wife, Margaret, and his son, Paul. During the original trial, prosecutors argued he murdered his family members to distract from financial crimes that they said threatened his reputation as a prominent attorney in South Carolina.
He was sentenced to life in prison after the conviction. He pleaded guilty to dozens of state and federal financial crimes and is serving concurrent prison sentences of 27 and 40 years.
The retrial now leaves open a question that could determine whether the case ends again in a life term or escalates toward the state’s most severe punishment.
Alex Murdaugh South Carolina retrial death penalty Alan Wilson Becky Hill Supreme Court decision jury interference Margaret Murdaugh Paul Murdaugh