South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns Alex Murdaugh Murder Convictions, Costing State ‘Tens of Millions’

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – The South Carolina Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions has sparked sharp criticism from legal observers, who say the ruling will cost the state dearly and force victims’ families to endure a second traumatic trial.

The court ruled earlier this week that the former attorney is entitled to a new trial, citing jury tampering allegations involving the court clerk who had a book deal on the case.

“The people of South Carolina should be really, really angry with Becky Hill because she just cost them tens of millions of dollars,” said Ashleigh Banfield, host of the true crime podcast Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield.

Banfield explained that the state Supreme Court’s decision effectively found that prosecutors introduced excessive evidence that did not pertain directly to the murders.

“They put too much stuff that did not pertain to the actual murders but pertained to financial crimes, and it tainted the jury,” Banfield said. “It was overkill.”

As a result, she noted, a second jury will not be allowed to hear about Murdaugh’s extensive financial crimes.

“The jury is not going to see Alex Murdaugh for the financial slimeball that he is to the tune of over $12 million,” Banfield said.

Murdaugh’s defense team has also raised concerns about the original investigation. His attorney told a colleague that law enforcement performed a poor job, pointing to tire tracks and footprints that were never followed, as well as male DNA found at the scene that did not belong to Murdaugh or any family member and was never entered into CODIS for follow-up.

Banfield said the state will face a harder path to conviction in a retrial.

“They’re not going to be able to pile on,” she said. “Next time around, they’re not going to be allowed to do that.”

She also questioned whether Murdaugh’s legal team will change its strategy, noting that she personally thought Murdaugh “did a really good job on the stand” during the first trial. His attorneys may reconsider putting him on the stand again to avoid opening the door to other evidence.

Asked whether Murdaugh could walk away from a retrial a free man regarding the murders, Banfield clarified that he is not getting out of prison anytime soon. Murdaugh has pleaded guilty to federal financial crimes and is serving decades for those offenses.

“He won’t be free,” Banfield said. “But he himself has said, ‘I may be a financial criminal, but I am not a murderer.’ And I guess he really wants to clear his name, probably for his surviving son, Buster.”

Buster Murdaugh has reportedly said he does not want a retrial, describing the prospect as a nightmare. Banfield expressed sympathy for the surviving family member but urged caution about some news reports.

“I’m not 100% sure if he wants his dad to be put away in prison for the murders of his mother and his brother, or if he just doesn’t want to relive it,” Banfield said. “I fully understand that was hell on Earth, and he’s probably still reliving it every single day.”

She added: “There are a lot of victims of Murdaugh. But I’m not 100% sure if the headlines maybe didn’t quite get it right.”