PAUL & MAGGIE MURDAUGH: South Carolina vs. Alex Murdaugh for Double Homicide of wife & son *GUILTY*

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This case is being kept pretty quiet, no major details released to speak of (other than it does say there were two different guns used), but no info regarding who found them, who called 911, very little else.

Of interest, the grandfather died just a few days after these murders and it sounds as if he was ill from various articles so probably not unexpected. I think of the typical motives, did grandpa have a big estate? How big in the overall family of grandpa's on down? They sound like a pretty well known family and a powerful one in their state, more on that in the article.


www.postandcourier.com

Questions abound in SC Murdaugh killing. Among them: Should prosecutor step aside?

Several days after two members of a prominent Hampton County family were fatally shot, questions about what happened still vastly outnumber answers.
www.postandcourier.com www.postandcourier.com
 
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I also don't agree about the egg juror. The egg juror was undecided IIRC and I think that's why the clerk got rid of her as she needed a guilty verdict to sell her book. She made up the story about the egg juror's husband's FB post IMO.
 
Tresir said:
The proof is they convicted him. Wasn't it originally 9-3 then the 3 changed their verdict? I don't know why I think that but I must have read it somewhere. JMO.
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I don't know about the 3 but could be. Seems a bit unlikely 3 were strongly against as the verdict was unanimous in just hours. That's if that is even true.

The fact they convicted him isn't proof they were swayed by tampering, etc. It's going to take more than that. This judge isn't allowing the defense to turn this into what Poot threatened to in his big PC and talk. It is being limited as I believe it should be in its scope to the things it should be. In my opinion defense and Alex have a steep uphill battle.

But, of course, depending on testimony and what results, who knows.
 
Tresir said:
I also don't agree about the egg juror. The egg juror was undecided IIRC and I think that's why the clerk got rid of her as she needed a guilty verdict to sell her book. She made up the story about the egg juror's husband's FB post IMO.
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The egg juror did not affect this verdict. She didn't deliberate.

I know what you are saying and how you are seeing it but regardless of how she came to be dismissed, and Judge Newman put on the record that that was NOT the reason for his dismissal of her. For one. And like it or not, she was not a part of the verdict that convicted Alex.
 
Ya all know me, I never have a print article, I always hear news first on YT and share it but I'm sure print can be found if news is out.

I haven't had time to watch it but I guess defense filed not liking judge's decisions.

 
@Tresir I know you're more into print but the bit I've watched of this he is reading the letter to the court/document in full. Not all that long either. I'll have to watch the rest later and may not get to at this rate today but just letting you know.
 
GrandmaBear said:
The egg juror did not affect this verdict. She didn't deliberate.

I know what you are saying and how you are seeing it but regardless of how she came to be dismissed, and Judge Newman put on the record that that was NOT the reason for his dismissal of her. For one. And like it or not, she was not a part of the verdict that convicted Alex.
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I understand that but I still think her dismissal was suspect. What was the reason for her dismissal according to Judge Newman?

I think she was a holdout that was got rid of in between the two summings up. So she was there right to the end virtually. And they are not questioning Judge Newman.
 
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Ok I thought this was going to be on the 31st? Or am I getting mixed up with another case now LOL

So one lone juror was questioned yesterday because of a scheduling conflict. But that's all that happened and the testimony won't be released till 9.30 on Monday, when the rest of the case is scheduled apparently.

www.greenvilleonline.com

Alex Murdaugh murder trial jury tampering hearing begins: What to expect this week

The Alex Murdaugh murder trial jury tampering hearing began Friday, and its outcome could determine if S.C. must undertake another murder trial.
www.greenvilleonline.com

From the above article -

Based on the single juror interview on Friday, the jurors will be asked six questions, which will be made public on Monday. The jurors are to respond to these questions with a simple "yes" or "no" answer unlessthejudgerequires more information.​

On Jan. 16, Justice Toal outlined the process by which she planned to interview the jurors.

The jurors will be brought in as a group for a briefing to establish the court procedure and then sent out of the courtroom. Jurors will then be questioned individually in open court directly by Toal only to determine primarily if there was improper contact, and if it influenced their verdict. No attorneys will question the jurors.

Once questioned, the jurors would then be seated in the jury box where they may later be questioned as a group, after which they will all be dismissed.

By law, jurors will not be required to answer certain questions that pertain to details of their actual deliberations.

The questions will be on two key areas:

  1. Did the juror hear Hill make certain, possibly improper comments?
  2. Did those comments impact their decision and the subsequent guilty verdict?
The S.C. Attorney General's Office has submitted a full list of proposed questions, and Murdaugh's attorneys have objected to most of them, submitting a list of their own. Much of Friday's single-juror hearing was spent arguing the exact phrasing of those questions in advance of Monday.

Who will question Becky Hill, and will she testify?​

Clerk Hill is expected to take the stand after lunch on Monday. She will be questioned by prosecutors with the S.C. Attorney General's Office and then cross-examined by Murdaugh's attorneys.
Hill has denied the allegations and has signed affidavits to that effect.
During the Jan. 16 hearing, it became clear that Murdaugh's team planned to attack Hill's character and credibility if allowed. In addition to the jury tampering allegations, Hill is also under investigation for ethics complaints that involve the alleged misuse of public office and public money. She also recently admitted to plagiarism when she wrote the now controversial and recently "unpublished" book, Behind the Doors of Justice.

Harpootlian made several comments suggesting that all of these allegations were relevant to "impeaching" Hill as a credible witness.

However, Toal stated that she planned to limit the focus of the Jan. 29 hearing to what happened in the courthouse during the trial only, with a particular focus on interactions between Hill and the jurors.
"This is not the trial of Mrs. Hill," said Toal. "This case is very focused on the jurors and the clerk of court, as I see it."
Hill, who has denied the jury allegations, is expected to take the stand after the jurors are questioned by Toal. She may invoke her Fifth Amendment rights on a question-by-question basis.

Continued at link
 
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I think Becky Hill should be questioned first.

I understand why they are doing it this way but she may just take the 5th on everything.
 
Tresir said:
I understand that but I still think her dismissal was suspect. What was the reason for her dismissal according to Judge Newman?

I think she was a holdout that was got rid of in between the two summings up. So she was there right to the end virtually. And they are not questioning Judge Newman.
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I think it was the fact she talked about the case to her tenants and something else I don't recall.

I guess that like I said for Alex to get a new trial, the juror's decisions as to the verdict would have to have been influenced and she did not deliver a verdict. I'm not saying whether it's right or wrong as I don't know but even IF she would have caused a hung jury, which we don't know, she was not dismissed due to what Hill said and so... Again I don't know but the judge is not including her in it.

As far as Newman, I don't recall the reason for that but I'm not surprised. I would have to guess since it was the egg juror he dismissed, how is he involved in any of this with the rest of the jurors? To my recollection, there was nothing that happened during trial that was brought to his attention by any juror nor Hill other than the egg lady was there?

I don't know but she is keeping this from being a defense free for all which I agree with. Some out there do disagree with her doing the questioning though. I don't know, I'm no judge or attorney and the things I talk about above in this post, I can see and understand. Not sure if all her decisions are correct here but I'd think she knows better than we do and she wouldn't want to do this wrong with all eyes on her? But who knows...

I'll say this, she does't appear to be a Murdaugh pocket judge.

I do agree also that it is right she keep out anything regarding Hill or her son with other issues that have nothing to do with this.

So honestly I can see the reason for most of her decisions and agree with them. I kind of talked it out to myself in this post. I agreed when I watched it and do now again for the most part.

Personally I have never trusted all defense did and said with all of this and felt it far overblown BUT I do agree jury tampering is serious. I'm just not sure it rises to that level yet or if it affected their decision. I feel with me, no one even a clerk could influence a decision of mine, I'd take my decision very seriously. It really depends on whether what she said or did influenced one's decision doesn't it?

Now as to her, that's another issue. Her behavior and acts if true. This isn't a trial of her and it isn't a trial of Newman or anyone is the way I take it. This is dialing into whether the verdict would be the same and if jurors were influenced in their verdict no?

I gave Hill the benefit of the doubt to begin with and claims by defense I didn't give a lot of weight to. Even the arrest of her son, wasn't sure. However, what some may think more minor is what tipped me over. The plagiarism. For me, that showed her character and how important the book was to her and that she felt under pressure to get it out so plagiarized. That then makes some of the other claims more believable. It isn't proof of the other things but it shows a lot. Other things to date are allegations but this she didn't deny and comparing it to the original she plagiarized it was clear she "stole" it. So I have no sympathy left for Hill, she is an idiot and may have single handedly gotten Alex a new trial and should be ashamed of herself but that remains to be seen. My opinion of her though doesn't mean I disagree with the judge's decisions on this.

Just making it clear that my agreement with most of the judge's decisions have nothing to do with any defense of Hill or sympathy for her as I no longer have any.
 
Tresir said:
Ok I thought this was going to be on the 31st? Or am I getting mixed up with another case now LOL

So one lone juror was questioned yesterday because of a scheduling conflict. But that's all that happened and the testimony won't be released till 9.30 on Monday, when the rest of the case is scheduled apparently.

www.greenvilleonline.com

Alex Murdaugh murder trial jury tampering hearing begins: What to expect this week

The Alex Murdaugh murder trial jury tampering hearing began Friday, and its outcome could determine if S.C. must undertake another murder trial.
www.greenvilleonline.com

From the above article -

Based on the single juror interview on Friday, the jurors will be asked six questions, which will be made public on Monday. The jurors are to respond to these questions with a simple "yes" or "no" answer unlessthejudgerequires more information.​

On Jan. 16, Justice Toal outlined the process by which she planned to interview the jurors.

The jurors will be brought in as a group for a briefing to establish the court procedure and then sent out of the courtroom. Jurors will then be questioned individually in open court directly by Toal only to determine primarily if there was improper contact, and if it influenced their verdict. No attorneys will question the jurors.

Once questioned, the jurors would then be seated in the jury box where they may later be questioned as a group, after which they will all be dismissed.

By law, jurors will not be required to answer certain questions that pertain to details of their actual deliberations.

The questions will be on two key areas:

  1. Did the juror hear Hill make certain, possibly improper comments?
  2. Did those comments impact their decision and the subsequent guilty verdict?
The S.C. Attorney General's Office has submitted a full list of proposed questions, and Murdaugh's attorneys have objected to most of them, submitting a list of their own. Much of Friday's single-juror hearing was spent arguing the exact phrasing of those questions in advance of Monday.

Who will question Becky Hill, and will she testify?​

Clerk Hill is expected to take the stand after lunch on Monday. She will be questioned by prosecutors with the S.C. Attorney General's Office and then cross-examined by Murdaugh's attorneys.
Hill has denied the allegations and has signed affidavits to that effect.
During the Jan. 16 hearing, it became clear that Murdaugh's team planned to attack Hill's character and credibility if allowed. In addition to the jury tampering allegations, Hill is also under investigation for ethics complaints that involve the alleged misuse of public office and public money. She also recently admitted to plagiarism when she wrote the now controversial and recently "unpublished" book, Behind the Doors of Justice.

Harpootlian made several comments suggesting that all of these allegations were relevant to "impeaching" Hill as a credible witness.

However, Toal stated that she planned to limit the focus of the Jan. 29 hearing to what happened in the courthouse during the trial only, with a particular focus on interactions between Hill and the jurors.
"This is not the trial of Mrs. Hill," said Toal. "This case is very focused on the jurors and the clerk of court, as I see it."
Hill, who has denied the jury allegations, is expected to take the stand after the jurors are questioned by Toal. She may invoke her Fifth Amendment rights on a question-by-question basis.

Continued at link
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I don't disagree with this. Anything else about Hill has nothing to do with this. It is not a free for all/shouldn't be.

However, Toal stated that she planned to limit the focus of the Jan. 29 hearing to what happened in the courthouse during the trial only, with a particular focus on interactions between Hill and the jurors.
"This is not the trial of Mrs. Hill," said Toal. "This case is very focused on the jurors and the clerk of court, as I see it."
Hill, who has denied the jury allegations, is expected to take the stand after the jurors are questioned by Toal. She may invoke her Fifth Amendment rights on a question-by-question basis.

Poot would love to make this a big sensational public splash. He should realize no matter what happened here, his client is hardly a sympathetic one but I think he is in love with the attention himself honestly.

I have to add too that something still stinks here. This man and his cohort Griff provided almost no defense at trial nor made much effort and to me that is odd to this day. It's almost like they knew the time would be after and look at where we are now...
 
I get the impression they were more worried about the financial trials rather than the murder trial. Now they have only the murder trial to fight, they can give it 100% now..

If they lose this, will they then just do a regular appeal eg. challenging the evidence etc. What do you think?
 
Tresir said:
I get the impression they were more worried about the financial trials rather than the murder trial. Now they have only the murder trial to fight, they can give it 100% now..

If they lose this, will they then just do a regular appeal eg. challenging the evidence etc. What do you think?
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They'll definitely go to appeal and honestly I'm not sure they can't appeal this if it goes against them. Not sure. They were appealing weren't they and asked that it be put on hold while this was handled? I seem to recall that.
 
Is this today? It looks like it. I knew I wasn't off for it but I have a later shift in a couple of hours and just ran into this. I never looked into it as I just knew it was a work day for me.

 
Boy if I could afford to, I'd call in sick. This is FAR FROM DULL. So far it is like WOW. But based on one juror who clearly shouldn't have been a juror.
 
Almost every single juror heard nothing and was not influenced. HILL is UP NEXT but like courts that are backed up do they took an hour and a half lunch AFTER starting late.

One juror imo lied and said her verdict was influenced by both Hill and other jurors. Or she is just someone who does whatever anyone wants. Or was paid. A juror accessed FB while they were in the room and saw the questions being asked.

Wasn't dull. Wish I could watch it all but will have to catch the rest later I guess. Because of an unneeded and unnecessary long lunch.
 
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