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Alex Murdaugh granted change of venue for murder retrial, past testimony allowed
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- A judge ruled that Alex Murdaugh's testimony from his first murder trial can be used in his retrial, emphasizing that testifying carries consequences.
- The defense was granted permission to conduct independent DNA testing on evidence from Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails and the retrial venue will be moved out of Colleton County due to concerns about impartiality.
- The judge cited difficulties in finding qualified jurors in Colleton County during the previous trial and will decide on the new trial location in a formal order.
- Murdaugh faces double-murder charges for the 2021 deaths of his wife and son; his 2023 conviction was overturned by the state Supreme Court due to jury misconduct involving the then-Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill.
- Hill, who resigned and denied allegations of jury tampering, pleaded guilty to misconduct related to leaking sealed court exhibits and was sentenced to probation.
