Alex Murdaugh expressed gratitude after the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned his 2023 conviction for the murders of his wife and son. His defense attorneys, Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian, shared this reaction during their first interview following the decision.
“He didn’t believe it could be possible,” Griffin told “TODAY.” “He was gracious and thankful, saying, ‘Jim, I’m reading it, and it’s hard to believe.'”
The court’s decision ordered a new trial for the June 2021 killings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, following findings that the court clerk had improperly influenced the jury.
“He’s glad to remove that label of convicted murderer,” Griffin added.
During the initial trial, Colleton County Clerk Rebecca “Becky” Hill allegedly undermined Murdaugh’s credibility by suggesting to the jury that his testimony was untrustworthy. The court declared that this action denied Murdaugh a fair trial.
Murdaugh remains in prison for unrelated charges of financial misdeeds. Prosecutors intend to retry the murder charges swiftly. In Thursday’s interview with Craig Melvin, Griffin and Harpootlian voiced eagerness to face a “paper-thin” motive with new evidence.
The defense team hinted at new leads and information supporting Murdaugh’s innocence. Griffin mentioned “third parties and potential motives,” though details remain scarce. “This reversal gives us more access to that information,” Harpootlian stated, emphasizing the advantages of subpoenas and the legal process.
Griffin and Harpootlian confirmed they are representing Murdaugh on a pro-bono basis as their previous fees exhausted available funds. The initial trial incurred costs of $600,000.
Prosecutors argued during the 2023 trial that Murdaugh’s motive for the killings stemmed from attempts to regret questions about financial crimes. Despite this, the defense claimed Murdaugh had no motive and advocated for his innocence.
Murdaugh testified, admitting lies to law enforcement and struggles with opioid addiction, yet maintained his innocence, “I respect this court, but I’m innocent. I would never hurt my wife or son.”
Opinions vary among jurors from the first trial. Some, like Amie Williams, were shocked by the reversal, expressing confidence in their original verdict. Others, like Mandy Pearce, believed that Murdaugh did not receive a fair trial.
Hill admitted to misconduct, receiving probation after sharing sensitive court material with a photographer and lying about it. She acknowledged her mistakes without offering additional comments.