Alex Murdaugh's defense team has filed new motions requesting an independent laboratory review of DNA evidence found under his late wife Maggie Murdaugh's fingernails. The defense also seeks to move the murder trial out of the 14th Judicial Circuit and allow Murdaugh to access case materials electronically while incarcerated.
In one filing, attorneys asked the court to order the state to produce DNA evidence, identified as SLED Item No. 70, which the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division determined came from an unknown and unrelated male. The defense stated that no further analysis was attempted on this sample.
Murdaugh's attorneys have contacted Othram Inc., a company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, about conducting a more thorough analysis. According to the filing, Othram believes it can perform this testing, but it would require considerable time and a rush order. The defense is requesting that the sample be delivered to Othram for testing at Murdaugh's expense.
In a separate motion, the defense argued for the trial to be moved from the 14th Judicial Circuit, which includes Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. Attorneys cited the case as "among the most heavily publicized criminal prosecutions in the history" of South Carolina, asserting that years of "saturating, sensational, and continuous media coverage" have made a fair trial impossible within the circuit where the Murdaugh name has been historically associated with the legal system. The defense contends that moving the trial to another county within the same circuit would not alleviate the alleged prejudice.
A third motion seeks to have the South Carolina Department of Corrections allow Murdaugh to review voluminous case materials on a secure laptop computer. The proposed setup includes a laptop with an encrypted, password-protected hard drive, which would lack cellular capabilities or internet access. This device would be kept in a secure location when not in use, and any audio or video recordings would require prior written approval from the Department of Corrections. The defense argued this method would be more secure than transporting large quantities of paper records, some of which are sealed or under protective orders.
No rulings on these motions were included in the filings. Fox News Digital has reached out to South Carolina's Attorney General's Office and Murdaugh's defense team for comment.