South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s double murder convictions in a surprise ruling.
Court cited issues in the original trial process for the killings of his wife and son.
Murdaugh could see a new trial or other outcomes after years behind bars.
Family of victims reacted with shock to the decision.
Case drew massive attention as one of the biggest true crime sagas.
Legal experts debating what comes next in the high-profile mess.
State prosecutors weighing next steps fast.
Victims’ families get dragged back through it all again.
Unanimous 5-0 decision to overturn convictions and consecutive life sentences.
The murder convictions and consecutive life sentences for Alex Murdaugh, a prominent South County attorney who was found guilty of killing his wife and son, were overturned on Wednesday by the state’s supreme court.
Murdaugh was convicted in March 2023 for killing his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, at the family’s estate in 2021.
He will be given a new trial.
Murdaugh, 57, also pleaded guilty to a series of financial crimes in September 2023 and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Lawyers for Murdaugh pushed for a new trial based on “improper” conduct by the county clerk, Becky Hill, who later wrote a book about her time working on the trial.
“While we respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision, my Office will aggressively seek to retry Alex Murdaugh for the murders of Maggie and Paul as soon as possible,” South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement. “Let me be clear—this decision does not mean Murdaugh will be released. He will remain in prison for his financial crimes. No one is above the law and, as always, we will continue to fight for justice.”