Prosecutors are strongly opposing a request by Alex Murdaugh to appear in civilian attire and without shackles during his upcoming retrial on charges of murdering his wife and son. In court documents filed Thursday, the state argued that Murdaugh, who is currently serving lengthy prison sentences for financial crimes, should not receive special treatment and is "not special."
Murdaugh, 58, is scheduled to appear in a Lexington County courtroom on Monday for the second trial stemming from the June 7, 2021, deaths of his wife, Maggie, 52, and their 22-year-old son, Paul. His initial conviction in 2023 was overturned in May by the South Carolina Supreme Court due to judicial misconduct by a court clerk who allegedly influenced the jury.
Murdaugh's legal team had filed several motions this week, including one asserting that he would face prejudice if forced to wear jail attire and shackles during court proceedings. However, prosecutors countered that Murdaugh remains an inmate serving multiple decades-long sentences for admitted financial crimes and therefore should not be afforded exemptions from standard security protocols.
"This case is ultimately about the fact that [Murdaugh] thinks he is special," wrote S. Creighton Waters, a chief attorney with the state attorney general’s office, in the court filing. Waters added that it is not the prosecution's fault that Murdaugh is a convicted felon serving a long sentence, and he should not be able to disregard the consequences of his admitted actions.
Murdaugh pleaded guilty to federal and state financial crimes, for which he is serving a 27-year sentence in one case and a 40-year sentence in another. His lawyers have also filed motions seeking to move the trial out of Colleton County, citing concerns about receiving a fair trial in a community heavily engrossed in the widely publicized case. Additionally, his defense is seeking access to DNA evidence related to the alleged murders.
Murdaugh has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the killings of his wife and son at their Colleton County estate. The initial conviction was overturned after the South Carolina Supreme Court found that former court clerk Rebecca “Becky” Hill had improperly influenced the jury, shared sealed crime scene photos with a reporter, and lied about her actions while attempting to profit from the case by selling a book about it. The court ruled that Hill had "placed her fingers on the scales of justice."