South Carolina prosecutors are opposing Alex Murdaugh’s request to relocate his trial to Charleston. They argue that the defense’s demand for “Charleston or bust” poses logistical challenges and unnecessary expenses.

In a court document filed on Wednesday, prosecutors urged the court to reject Murdaugh’s attempt, asserting that although Charleston is known for its industry, arts, and tourism, it is the most challenging county in the state for a trial of this scale.

Murdaugh’s trial is scheduled tentatively for April 2027.

Logistical Concerns

Prosecutors have highlighted several logistical issues with moving the trial to Charleston. They note that downtown traffic and parking are already congested on typical business days, and the addition of jurors, witnesses, media, and onlookers would exacerbate these issues.

The filing also pointed out that hotel prices would rise during the spring tourist season and Masters week. Additionally, spring storms and king tides often cause flooding in the downtown area, complicating logistics further.

Alternative Venues

The prosecutors mentioned that while the defense seeks a venue change due to media coverage of the first trial, relocating the trial to a county next to Colleton County would undermine this reasoning.

They suggested other viable alternatives like Spartanburg, York, or Florence as more reasonable options than Charleston.

The State responded after Murdaugh’s defense team filed to shift the trial to Charleston County. They cited factors like local publicity, family connections, and issues with the courthouse integrity in Colleton County.

Murdaugh is expected to attend a pretrial hearing on Friday morning at the Lexington County Courthouse.