Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys have withdrawn a request for the convicted former lawyer to appear unshackled and in civilian clothes at upcoming pretrial hearings and televised proceedings. The decision came after prosecutors argued that Murdaugh, who is awaiting a new trial for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, was seeking special treatment due to his notoriety.
Murdaugh's legal team stated they would not contest the state's stance and would not "waste court time arguing over 'the optics' of a status conference." Prosecutors had urged a Colleton County judge to deny the motion, asserting that Murdaugh's fame does not exempt him from standard inmate protocols, which include restraints and uniforms for court appearances. The South Carolina Department of Corrections' practice, they argued, is to keep all inmates restrained and uniformed due to security concerns, heightened by the seriousness of the charges, Murdaugh's lengthy sentence, and his high public profile.
The state also cited past custody issues, including an instance during the original trial where a family member allegedly passed Murdaugh a book without law enforcement's knowledge, which was later found in his cell and led to a contraband warrant. Further disciplinary actions in August 2023, involving abuse of privileges and unauthorized use of another inmate's PIN, were also mentioned.
Murdaugh's lawyers countered by accusing prosecutors of "histrionics" and "rhetoric rather than law." They argued that the state failed to demonstrate a specific need to display Murdaugh in shackles before potential jurors, emphasizing that he has not attempted escape or violence while in custody and has attended numerous hearings and a six-week trial without incident. The defense also highlighted legal precedent regarding the potential prejudice of showing defendants in restraints, even if cameras might broadcast the image to future jurors.
Despite these arguments, the defense ultimately withdrew the motion, stating a desire not to distract from more substantive issues ahead of the retrial. These include motions concerning unknown DNA evidence from the crime scene, access to case materials, and a potential change of venue.
Murdaugh is currently serving a 27-year sentence for financial crimes and a concurrent 40-year federal sentence for similar offenses. His murder convictions were overturned in May by the South Carolina Supreme Court due to improper interference by the former Colleton County Clerk of Court, Rebecca Hill, leading to the order for new proceedings.