Turley says the accusations against the court clerk go ‘well beyond the pale.’
Constitutional law attorney Jonathan Turley appeared on “America’s Newsroom” on Wednesday to discuss Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers’ request for a new trial. He said that the claims of jury tampering should be taken “very seriously.”
TURLEY, JONATHAN: I have to say I have watched cases for a long time. In the past, I mainly worked as a lawyer for people accused of crimes. I haven’t seen proof like this in many cases. This is a big deal in terms of the claims that the jury was tampered with. I mean, the judges are kept in a very safe environment in the court. What [clerk Rebecca] Hill says here is far from the truth. The court has no choice but to take this seriously and hold a hearing.
On Tuesday, Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers filed a shocking motion in Columbia, South Carolina, asking for a new trial. The sign says that the court clerk messed with the jury so she could get a book deal.
Rebecca Hill, a court clerk in Colleton County, wrote “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders,” a book about her life that came out in stores on August 1.
Lawyers Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin wrote in the filing that Hill pressured the jury to “reach a quick verdict.” They had “frequent private conversations with the jury foreperson” to get the panel to find him guilty.
The statement says, “Ms. Hill did these things to get herself a book deal and media appearances that she wouldn’t get if the trial was thrown out.” “Ms. Hill broke her oath of office because she wanted money and attention.”