In a significant development in the high-profile case of Alec Murdoch, Judge Gene Toll of South Carolina has denied the motion for a new trial. Murdoch, a former attorney, is currently serving two life sentences for the murders of his wife and youngest son. The motion for a new trial alleged prejudice suffered by the defendants due to improper comments made by the clerk of court, who allegedly influenced the jurors.
During the proceedings, the credibility of the clerk of court, whose denial of making comments expressing her opinion of the verdict was questioned. Judge Toll noted that the clerk had expressed her desire to write a book about the trial and possibly sell books with a guilty verdict as early as November 2022, prior to the trial. Although the clerk denied this, the judge found her testimony not completely credible.
