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Alex Murdaugh lawyers say top investigator lied to grand jury, want murder indictments tossed
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh have requested a judge to dismiss the original murder indictments against him, alleging that the chief investigator, David Owen, provided false testimony to the grand jury.
- Murdaugh is set for a retrial after the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned his 2023 convictions due to juror influence by a court clerk, but dismissal of indictments may not delay the April retrial as prosecutors can seek new indictments.
- The judge has yet to rule on the defense's motion but questioned prosecutors about readiness for the April trial, hinting at a possible decision timeline.
- The request to dismiss indictments could further damage the reputation of investigator Owen, who retired amid controversy over withholding evidence in a separate case.
- Prosecutors acknowledge errors in Owen's grand jury testimony but argue there is ample other evidence linking Murdaugh to the murders, while defense attorneys emphasize the lack of physical evidence directly tying Murdaugh to the crime scene.
