Former Chief Justice Toal to preside over Murdaugh motion for new trial

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO)– Retired Chief Justice of the SC Supreme Court Jean Toal is returning to the bench.

Today, current Chief Justice Donald Beatty ordered that Toal preside over convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial.

Judge Clifton Newman, who heard Murdaugh’s double murder trial earlier this year previously asked to be removed from any future procedures involving the disgraced former attorney.

Murdaugh’s defense team filed a motion requesting a new trial after the clerk of court in the previous trial, Becky Hill, released a book in which attorneys claim she admitted to jury tampering by instructing jurors to disregard Murdaugh’s testimony.

Alex Murdaugh was convicted in the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.