Alex Murdaugh re-trial date set, location to be determined
LEXINGTON, SC (WOLO) — Inside the Lexington County Courthouse on Monday morning, Alex Murdaugh’s re-trial date was set for April 5, 2027.
The hour long hearing was known as a status conference — basically a routine, court ordered meeting between the judge and attorneys that focuses on procedures, and logistics like scheduling and the trial’s location.
Murdaugh was back in court along with many of the key players in his first trial-including Defense Attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin and Prosecutor Creighton Waters. Notably absent from the hearing was Attorney General Alan Wilson, most likely due to the ongoing governor’s race.
During the hour long hearing, Judge Debra McCaslin asked the legal teams how long they need to be ready to start the actual trial. Prosecutors said they’d be willing to start by end of this year. However, defense attorneys said they’re going to have eight new expert witnesses and would need at least six months to prepare.
The next pre-trial date has also been set for August 14th. Judge McCaslin has asked the prosecution and defense to come up with several locations they can agree on, to be discussed at the next pre-trial. Until then, the location of the re-trial remains yet to be determined.
Murdaugh’s attorneys also want DNA found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails independently analyzed by a company out of Houston, Texas after ruling out that the DNA did not belong to Alex or a member of the Murdaugh family in the first trial (the DNA was initially found to be inconsequential because Maggie had visited a nail salon on the day she was murdered).
The judge wants to save further details around DNA for the next pre-trial, asking the defense to determine how long DNA analysis will take and report back to her.
The defense also requested that Murdaugh have access to a laptop in his prison cell to be able to review case materials. The Judge says she already called the warden with the SC Dept. of Corrections and discussed the possibility of him having a laptop. He told the judge he will not allow a laptop for safety reasons but he would make available a conference room —-or she says attorneys or paralegals can come themselves. However, someone must be with Murdaugh at all times — the judge adding that no other inmate has a laptop.
The defense also asked that Murdaugh not be shackled or in a jumpsuit for the trial since his double murder conviction was overturned. Harpootlian saying, “Potential jurors are watching right now.” The judge says she will make a ruling on that in the future.
