Prosecutors deny falsifying evidence in Alex Murdaugh case: ‘Simply Incorrect’

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - State prosecutors are responding to Alex Murdaugh’s previous claims of false testimony and fabricated evidence, saying the allegations are “simply incorrect.”

Over a week ago, Murdaugh’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against him related to the deaths of his wife and son.

Murdaugh’s attorneys argued that false testimony was reported to the court and the State leaked fabricated evidence to the press.

Murdaugh’s legal team claims the state fabricated evidence of blood spatter on the shirt he was wearing when he found the bodies of his wife and son.

In its response, the State calls that claim wrong and says there’s no evidence anything was fabricated.

“There is no evidence of misrepresentation or intentional fabrication, much less even presentation of false evidence,” the prosecution’s response states.

Before and during the previous trial, prosecutors say the blood spatter issue was already litigated.

The State claims a 2021 test indicated the possible presence of blood and spatter on Murdaugh’s white shirt. Later on, an outside expert concluded there were more than 100 spatter stains on it.

The State acknowledges investigators initially missed a separate 2021 lab report that found no human blood in samples from the shirt.

Prosecutors say that report was in a lab file provided to the defense, but had not initially been given to prosecutors or the outside expert.

After reviewing it, the expert concluded that an earlier treatment of the shirt could have caused a false negative. The State says he stood by his opinion that the shirt had blood spatter.

Prosecutors stand by their decision that there is ample evidence to support probable cause in the matter and the high burden for dismissal is not met.

Murdaugh’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 13 in Lexington County.

This hearing will discuss motions and remaining matters related to the upcoming retrial.