Former disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh’s defense claims jury tampering corrupted his double murder trial, possibly overturning his 2023 conviction. Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian told Fox News Digital, “If she had left the jury alone, clearly the worst we would have done was a mistrial.” He accused Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill of manipulating jurors to boost her book sales.
Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul on June 7, 2021. Now, newly revealed text messages and misconduct charges against Hill fuel serious doubts about the trial’s integrity. One juror known as the “egg lady” was dismissed based on Hill’s influence, while another claimed she felt pressured into voting guilty.
“She told several of her coworkers that a guilty verdict would be good for book sales,” Harpootlian said. Hill faces charges of misconduct, obstruction of justice, and perjury. A retired South Carolina Supreme Court chief justice later ruled Hill not credible, confirming she interfered with jury deliberations.
Text messages between Murdaugh and alleged drug dealer Curtis “Eddie” Smith in the days before the murders raise additional questions. “Those texts… might have made the difference in us calling him to the stand,” Harpootlian added.
Harpootlian also blasted Attorney General Alan Wilson for calling Hill “Becky Boo,” calling it a conflict of interest. “There should be a grand jury investigation into Becky Hill’s conduct,” he demanded. If the South Carolina Supreme Court grants a retrial, Harpootlian said it will be “a very different case” focused on the facts—not theatrics.
