Reuters
A juror in Alex Murdaugh’s double-homicide trial was eliminated on Thursday for “improper conversations” in regards to the case with a number of folks exterior court docket.
Choose Clifton Newman stated she was bounced after a prolonged investigation by two brokers, one in every of whom was a witness for the prosecution within the trial—a circumstance that made the protection throw a match.
The juror’s dismissal was introduced at a listening to simply earlier than Murdaugh’s protection group was set to current closing arguments within the hopes of convincing the jury that Murdaugh didn't shoot his spouse, Maggie, and his son, Paul, on the household searching property in June 2021.
“The juror has had contact or discussions in regards to the case with at the very least three people, although it doesn't seem the dialogue was that in depth,” Newman stated, including that he additionally interviewed the 2 individuals who had been involved with the juror.
“Each of these people waffled on the character and the extent of the contact.”
Protection lawyer Dick Harpootlian instantly expressed outrage over the investigation into the juror, noting that one of many legislation enforcement brokers had testified through the trial and one other had as soon as labored on the homicide probe.
“[South Carolina Law Enforcement Division] has made one other dangerous judgment on this case,” Harpootlian added. “That is only a continuum of a calamity of errors.”
Newman introduced out the juror on Thursday to tell her that whereas she has been “attentive to the case and carried out nicely” all through the homicide trial, she must be eliminated. The juror will now get replaced with an alternate.
“With on a regular basis you’ve invested within the case, you in all probability hate to not proceed, or perhaps you wish to go,” Newman stated to laughter. “I’m not suggesting you deliberately did something fallacious.”
Earlier than leaving, Newman requested the juror if there was something she wanted to retrieve from the Colleton County courthouse. She stated she want to get her purse and a dozen eggs.
Jill Huntley Taylor, an skilled trial guide who shouldn't be related to the case, informed The Every day Beast that the dismissal would possibly have an effect on the opposite jurors, who may begin deliberating as quickly as Wednesday afternoon.
“As for the jurors, after 6 weeks, they've little question bonded in sure methods,” Taylor stated, including that the signal that a dozen eggs had been within the jury room may counsel “they get alongside and bought together with this juror.”
Taylor added that whereas jurors are “not supposed to debate” the continued case, the group probably has a “sense of the place one another stands.” She expects that the juror might have shared her opinions with the jury and that her absence shall be observed.
Following the juror debacle, protection lawyer Jim Griffin spent a number of hours arguing to the court docket that his shopper is harmless and the sufferer of a botched homicide investigation. Griffin additionally frolicked addressing Murdaugh’s beautiful revelation that he had lied to investigators about his whereabouts the night time of the murders—echoing Murdaugh’s rationalization that it was the results of a two-decade habit to opioids.
“That’s what addicts do,” Griffin stated. “And why did he lie? That's definitely a good query. And, frankly, I in all probability wouldn’t be sitting over there proper now if he had not lied.”
Griffin, nonetheless, confused to the jury that Murdaugh’s numerous missteps, together with the separate costs he faces for monetary crimes and drug trafficking, doesn't imply he murdered his spouse and son, who a number of folks confused had been his prime precedence.
“On behalf of Alex, on behalf of Buster, on behalf of Maggie, and on behalf of my pal Paul,” Griffin stated, his voice breaking. “I respectfully request that you don't compound a household tragedy with one other.”