For the first time since his murder trial, convicted killer Alex Murdaugh appeared Thursday before the judge who sentenced him to life in prison.
The issue for Judge Clifton Newman this time; when will the once high-profile attorney stand trial in state court on 101 charges, he stole $8.8 million from former clients and friends.
Murdaugh’s once red hair was mostly grey and closely cropped as he sat with his attorneys in a Beaufort courtroom. They argued the details of those financial crimes are too fresh on minds as they were part of Murdaugh’s much publicized double murder trial in Colleton County six months ago.
“Don’t we need to let it calm down,” said attorney Dick Harpootlian. “Where are you going to get a jury, Mars?”
Judge Newman disagreed and said there were cases in multiple counties that could be tried, and he wanted one by year’s end.
Both the defense and the prosecution agreed to a November 27th trial date to hear the case involving Murdaugh’s late housekeeper. Gloria Satterfield died in a reported fall at his home in 2018. Murdaugh is accused of orchestrating a deal to steal millions in insurance money meant for Satterfield’s family. She helped raise his two sons.
Murdaugh will be back in court long before November. He’s expected plead guilty next Thursday to similar financial fraud charges in a federal courtroom in Charleston.
And he's fighting for a new murder trial. Last week, his attorneys filed a motion accusing the clerk of court of jury tampering. They say Becky Hill not only made comments that influenced the jurors’ decision but pressured them to come up with a verdict quickly.
Jurors deliberated for three hours before finding Murdaugh guilty of gunning down his wife and son.
