Alex Murdaugh files federal lawsuit against Becky Hill

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Alex Murdaugh is now suing the former court clerk, whom the South Carolina Supreme Court said played a key role in his 2023 murder conviction.

Murdaugh filed a federal lawsuit against ex-Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill on Sunday. It claims Hill’s interactions with the jury violated Murdaugh’s constitutional right to a fair trial.

Hill reportedly told jurors not to be “thrown off”, “misled,” or “fooled” by Murdaugh’s defense.

The complaint also details multiple alleged private conversations between Hill and the jury foreperson, but told jurors they could not ask either about those talks. It also claims Hill fabricated a Facebook post about a juror’s ex-husband and used it to influence that juror.

It also claims Hill told jurors that deliberations shouldn’t take long and talked up their potential “fame” as being part of the Murdaugh trial.

Ultimately, the complaint alleges that Hill wanted a guilty verdict for Murdaugh to sell her book about the trial, which was released just months after the conviction and sentencing.

Murdaugh is suing for $600,000 in compensatory damages for costs of the first trial, as well as punitive damages and attorney fees.

One of Murdaugh’s attorneys, Jim Griffin, noted Monday that none of the $600,000 being sought would go directly to Murdaugh himself.

MORE BACKGROUND

Murdaugh, a former Lowcountry attorney, was initially found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul.

In a ruling last week, however, the South Carolina Supreme Court threw out Murdaugh’s murder convictions and opened the door for a possible retrial.

Murdaugh’s defense team, attorneys Dick Harpoolitan and Jim Griffin, are set to provide more updates on the case during a press conference on Monday. It’s unclear if the federal lawsuit will be addressed.

It’s unclear where or when a retrial would take place.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson also told WIS late last week that the state has all options on the table regarding Murdaugh’s case, including the death penalty.

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This is a developing story. Stay with WIS for updates.

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