GUILTY SC - Paul Murdaugh & mom Margaret Found Shot To Death 7 June 2021 - Alex Murdaugh sentenced - Islandton #44 *appeal 2026*

[Smelly Squirrel]

It's unknown how long the appeal decision will take.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/11/us/alex-murdaugh-murder-appeal

The justices are now tasked with deciding whether to uphold the murder conviction, remand the case for further proceedings, or overturn it and order a new trial. There is no deadline for their written ruling.

There actually is a law which sets a deadline, but it's been long ignored.

Is S.C. Supreme Court Following Law on Making Timely Decisions?

According to state law, justices on the South Carolina Supreme Court have 60 days to file their decisions from the time a term ends after hearing a case. But ask

www.postandcourier.com

According to state law, justices on the South Carolina Supreme Court have 60 days to file their decisions from the time a term ends after hearing a case. But ask any lawyer who’s had a case before the High Court if the turn-of-the-century law is always followed, and they’ll likely laugh in your face.

But it's likely to take a few months.

https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/south-carolina-news/alex-murdaughs-legal-team-appeals-conviction-before-sc-supreme-court/

We could expect a decision in the next 60 to 90 days on whether Murdaugh can get a new trial.

 

[kaen]

I am going to appreciate the guilty flag on this thread each and every day it lasts. Sadly, I expect the verdict will be overturned.

 

[MissPie]

I am going to appreciate the guilty flag on this thread each and every day it lasts. Sadly, I expect the verdict will be overturned.

After listening to the judges and their questioning of the prosecution versus the defense, I am also expecting an overturned verdict. It seemed very slanted toward the defense, IMO. I’m glad that at least he’s got the financial crimes to keep him in prison, even if they have to retry him on his murders. Doggone Becky Hill….

 

[Weki]

The things the judges said/asked that are concerning:

Becky Hill is a liar, and a rogue clerk of court

The defendant is entitled to 12 impartial jurors not 11

If this trial had been a day long would we be justified in overturning it with these facts? (Implying that Creighton was arguing that because this was a long trial and everyone worked so hard they should overlook improper influencing of the jury)

They asked Creighton if Becky Hill’s conduct was IMPROPER - Creighton said yes

 

[ch_13]

It’s interesting that juror z said she felt pressured by other jurors. I see her feeling emboldened to nurse her grievances by the defense overtures. Someone who is a follower by nature sort of being empowered to complain about the leaders. But who didn’t have the assertiveness to speak her mind or who may have been ambivalent. And now she gets to feel important and assertive by doing this. Just speculation on my part but her answers really aggravated me.

Juror Z was a bit of a mess. I don't like to criticize jurors who are just doing their civic duty, but listening to the interview she gave afterwards, she just was unable to articulate a single thought. The long pauses and gobbledy-gook responses are just painful.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829157789140492600

 

[girlhasnoname]

Thanks for sharing this. My first thought was wow 182 page brief sounds like an oxymoron to me I am not going to take the time to read it. I'm not a lawyer and do not really understand all the back and forth about whether the financial crimes should have been admitted but I do agree it is not a reason to overturn a verdict as I believe Judge Newman properly weighed the arguments before him in making his decision. My concern about the financial crimes is not whether the SCSC would grant a new trial for them but that if a new trial was granted because of BH, would they be allowed in by another judge in a new trial and whether they were necessary to prove him guilty of murder. I'm not even sure they would be needed in a new trial because I found the evidence of him at the kennel and the location of Maggie's phone along his path and things like no blood on him even though he says he leaned over both bodies to check a pulse and whole host of other things compelling evidence of his guilt.

As for the BH argument for a new trial - again as a non-attorney - it is obvious she was out of line and if she didn't influence the jury I don't think it was for lack of trying. FWIT I think she should have had a much harsher penalty too but that's another topic. I do understand that Judge Toal found it did not influence the jury and in part that was because she didn't believe the one voting juror who said it did long after the trial. I'm just not sure the SCSC will agree with that conclusion and think if they grant a new trial that will be the reason. I hope not because I feel a new trial will lead to the same guilty verdict and therefore be a waste of time and resources. But I just can't get past how totally inappropriate BH's was and the chance that it might have impacted a single juror's decision is troubling to me and I would think grounds for a retrial except that I don't really understand how the "likelihood of a different outcome" impacts an appeals court when considering whether to grant a new trial. I do believe there is little to no likelihood of a different outcome and if that is the standard then I can see where they would deny a new trial. I will be anxiously awaiting their decision.

ITA, especially about BH receiving a harsher sentence. She pranced around the trial like she was the ring leader at a circus and wasn't it the AG (It could have been CW, but I don't think so) that thanked her on the Courthouse steps right after the verdict for all her hard work in keeping the trial running smoothly during their PC? Oh how she smiled and reveled in all that attention!

The very idea that she would jeopardize the biggest, most expensive case in SC's low country history for fame, ego, money or all three is just beyond repulsive. It's a narcissist action to me.

This case was about the vicious and brutal murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. THEY are the victims here. The thought of AM being considered a victim by BH's shady actions and possibly being granted a new trial makes my head want to explode.

P.S. - I don't think AM will get a new trial for a lot of reasons I won't get into, but each and every juror was polled after the verdict was announced and said "Yes" that is their verdict while still under the Court's Authority. Then Harpo and Griffen go out and make contact with the jurors personally afterwards? What kind of unprofessional, inappropriate crazy stunt was that?!

GRRRRRRRR, things that make you go WTAH??!! I'd love to see DH, RG, AM AND BH shipped to a desert island for the remainder of their days.

MOO

 

[Diddian]

ITA, especially about BH receiving a harsher sentence. She pranced around the trial like she was the ring leader at a circus and wasn't it the AG (It could have been CW, but I don't think so) that thanked her on the Courthouse steps right after the verdict for all her hard work in keeping the trial running smoothly during their PC? Oh how she smiled and reveled in all that attention!

The very idea that she would jeopardize the biggest, most expensive case in SC's low country history for fame, ego, money or all three is just beyond repulsive. It's a narcissist action to me.

This case was about the vicious and brutal murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh. THEY are the victims here. The thought of AM being considered a victim by BH's shady actions and possibly being granted a new trial makes my head want to explode.

P.S. - I don't think AM will get a new trial for a lot of reasons I won't get into, but each and every juror was polled after the verdict was announced and said "Yes" that is their verdict while still under the Court's Authority. Then Harpo and Griffen go out and make contact with the jurors personally afterwards? What kind of unprofessional, inappropriate crazy stunt was that?!

GRRRRRRRR, things that make you go WTAH??!! I'd love to see DH, RG, AM AND BH shipped to a desert island for the remainder of their days.

MOO

I watched much of the hearing and, based on the chief justice’s demeanor throughout his questioning as well as the demeanor of some of the other justices during some of their questions, I believe it likely they think Toal erred in allowing the conviction to stand and that AM will be granted a retrial.

BH influenced, she lied about that, and a juror was influenced. That juror was weak and easy to manipulate and while it might be argued that the defense team used that juror’s sympathies toward the egg juror after the trial to manipulate that juror, it can also be argued that BH recognized this juror as weak and easily manipulated and that is why she chose to influence.

Jurors need to do a good job policing themselves, remaining alert to any wrongdoing that could ultimately corrupt any among them or their process, and reporting when they see or hear something. It is really too bad that any of the other jurors who heard BH making statements to them or any other jurors did not report that to the judge at the time (and BEFORE deliberations if BH did any of this earlier). Now, ALL their time, work, and personal sacrifice to serve in the trial was wasted because of a rogue clerk and because EVEN THOSE who say they were influenced did not consider that clerk’s attempt to manipulate them worthy of reporting to the judge.

Makes me ill.

 

[Weki]

I watched much of the hearing and, based on the chief justice’s demeanor throughout his questioning as well as the demeanor of some of the other justices during some of their questions, I believe it likely they think Toal erred in allowing the conviction to stand and that AM will be granted a retrial.

BH influenced, she lied about that, and a juror was influenced. That juror was weak and easy to manipulate and while it might be argued that the defense team used that juror’s sympathies toward the egg juror after the trial to manipulate that juror, it can also be argued that BH recognized this juror as weak and easily manipulated and that is why she chose to influence.

Jurors need to do a good job policing themselves, remaining alert to any wrongdoing that could ultimately corrupt any among them or their process, and reporting when they see or hear something. It is really too bad that any of the other jurors who heard BH making statements to them or any other jurors did not report that to the judge at the time (and BEFORE deliberations if BH did any of this earlier). Now, ALL their time, work, and personal sacrifice to serve in the trial was wasted because of a rogue clerk and because EVEN THOSE who say they were influenced did not consider that clerk’s attempt to manipulate them worthy of reporting to the judge.

Makes me ill.

I think you are absolutely correct. BH targeted the female jurors that were passive and gossipy types like her. If I recall correctly, the jurors were separated by gender and I don't think she went into the men's jury room. She went to the women's jury room and messed about with a couple of the jurors. If she had done that to me I would've gone straight to the judge and reported her bs. I can smell a messy queen a mile away. Egg juror was another messy queen. That's why BH was throwing her weight around with egg juror and juror z and they probably saw her as an authority figure. That's what pisses me off so much because it's these types of passive, small-minded, goofy jurors that get verdicts reversed. They have oversized egos and don't appreciate the seriousness of what's at stake.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Wow and what an unfortunate set of potential developments. If this does unfold as many suspect, IMO I shall also remain infuriated that BH was allowed also IMO to ‘settle’ for such little punitive or other sanctions for her actions and misconduct in this entire trial.

It is most reprehensible. The punishment for those actions should have been more severe. And didn’t BH also have a book out on this? SMH

For now shall need to wait and see how this unfolds further. MOO

 

[girlhasnoname]

Wow and what an unfortunate set of potential developments. If this does unfold as many suspect, IMO I shall also remain infuriated that BH was allowed also IMO to ‘settle’ for such little punitive or other sanctions for her actions and misconduct in this entire trial.

It is most reprehensible. The punishment for those actions should have been more severe. And didn’t BH also have a book out on this? SMH

For now shall need to wait and see how this unfolds further. MOO

Yes, the interloping busy body (BH) wrote a book with someone else IIRC, which he quickly separated himself from.

I completely agree that she needs to serve jail time. I watched the entire trial minus standard emergency breaks (my DH threatened to leave me lol), the length of the trial, the number of witnesses, and the cost was outrageous. Not to mention the emotional toll it took on many of those who testified. Now to possibly do it again...GRRRRRRRR!!

To think BH opened a door to a possible retrial because of her narcissistic ego, makes me beyond angry.