Alex Murdaugh seeks new trial, alleges court clerk tampered with jury to secure book deal

Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh on Tuesday requested a new trial as his attorneys alleged in a filing that the county court clerk tampered with the jury to secure a book deal.

Colleton County Court Clerk Rebecca Hill's memoir, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders," was released Aug. 1, 

Murdaugh's Defense attorneys Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin wrote in a filing to the South Carolina Court of Appeals that "the Clerk of Court tampered with the jury by advising them not to believe Murdaugh’s testimony and other evidence presented by the defense, pressuring them to reach a quick guilty verdict, and even misrepresenting critical and material information to the trial judge in her campaign to remove a juror she believed favorable to the defense," according to The State.

"Ms. Hill did these things to secure for herself a book deal and media appearances that would not happen in the event of a mistrial," the filing also states, Fox News reported. "Ms. Hill betrayed her oath of office for money and fame."

Harpootlian and Griffin plan on detailing the allegations further during a press conference outside the state appeals court Tuesday afternoon.

Murdaugh, 55, was sentenced in March to two consecutive life prison terms after a jury found him guilty of murdering his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and his son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, following a six-week trial.

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