Alex Murdaugh defense seeks Richland County for murder retrial

Attorneys for Alex Murdaugh have filed a motion requesting that his upcoming double-murder retrial be held in Richland County, South Carolina. The defense argues that moving the proceedings to the Columbia area would provide a larger jury pool, increasing the likelihood of finding impartial jurors, while also addressing logistical and cost concerns.

This request follows a ruling by Judge Debra R. McCaslin, who determined that the retrial must be relocated from Colleton County. The South Carolina Supreme Court previously overturned Murdaugh’s 2023 conviction after finding that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill had improperly influenced jurors, thereby undermining the fairness of the original proceeding.