Murdaugh Defense Seeks New DNA Testing And Venue Change In Retrial Bid
On Tuesday, June 23, Alex Murdaugh's defense filed multiple motions in Colleton County seeking new DNA testing, a change of venue and secure electronic access to discovery ahead of his ordered retrial.[1]
One motion asks an independent lab to review SLED Item No. 70 — DNA recovered from under Maggie Murdaugh's left-hand fingernails that state lab labeled as an unrelated, unknown male and did not further analyze.[1] Defense lawyers say they have contacted private lab Othram Inc. to pursue advanced forensic genetic genealogy testing and asked the court to order transfer of the sample at Murdaugh's expense.[1] Separate motions seek to move the trial out of South Carolina's 14th Judicial Circuit because of heavy local publicity.[1] Another motion asks corrections officials to let Murdaugh review discovery on an encrypted, internet-disabled laptop to avoid dozens of banker's boxes of printed files.[1]
On March 2, 2023, Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie, and their son, Paul, and he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. His lawyers later accused Colleton County clerk Rebecca Hill of jury tampering and moved for a new trial on October 27, 2023; the motion was denied in January 2024. On May 13, 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed that denial and sent the case back for retrial, finding Hill exerted improper external influence on the jury.
The state Attorney General's office has said it will aggressively retry the murders.
The mainstream summary does not mention the significant cultural context surrounding the Murdaugh case, which has been described as South Carolina's 'trial of the century.' This framing highlights the extensive media coverage, including live broadcasts and multiple documentaries, that has shaped public perception and the legal proceedings. Such context is crucial, as it underscores the potential challenges Murdaugh's defense may face in securing a fair trial due to the pervasive pretrial publicity surrounding the case. The summary also omits details about the South Carolina Supreme Court's reversal of the denial for a new trial motion, which occurred in May 2026, emphasizing the ongoing legal complexities that could influence the retrial process. This reversal indicates a significant judicial acknowledgment of procedural issues that could affect Murdaugh's defense strategy moving forward, particularly in light of the Attorney General's commitment to aggressively retry the case.[2][3]
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📊 Relevant Data
The Alex Murdaugh murder case has been described as South Carolina's 'trial of the century,' with the original 2023 verdict transmitted live on major U.S. broadcast and cable networks and accompanied by multiple podcasts, documentaries, and a Netflix series.
Trial of Alex Murdaugh — Wikipedia
The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed denial of a new trial motion and remanded the case in May 2026, with the Attorney General's office stating it will aggressively retry the murders.
SC Supreme Court officially remits Murdaugh murder case for retrial — Greenville Online
📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Murdaugh's defense filed multiple motions in Colleton County related to his upcoming retrial.
- One motion seeks independent lab review of SLED Item No. 70, DNA from under Maggie Murdaugh's left-hand fingernails that SLED labeled as from an unknown, unrelated male and did not further analyze.
- The defense has contacted Othram Inc. about conducting advanced forensic genetic genealogy testing and asks the court to order the sample transferred at Murdaugh's expense.
- A separate motion requests moving the trial out of South Carolina's 14th Judicial Circuit due to extensive local publicity surrounding the Murdaugh family.
- Another motion asks corrections officials to let Murdaugh review discovery on an encrypted, internet-disabled laptop because printed materials would fill numerous banker’s boxes.
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