South Carolina wants more time to fight Alex Murdaugh's Supreme Court appeal; Murdaugh says no

The Attorney General's office cites the complexity and length of the case as reasons for needing an extension until August 8th

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office is seeking more time to respond to convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh's Supreme Court appeal brief, but Murdaugh's attorneys are strongly contesting that request.

On April 3, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson's office filed a motion for a second extension in Murdaugh's state Supreme Court appellate case, and the same day, Murdaugh's legal team promptly responded in opposition.

"We will not consent," wrote Murdaugh attorney Richard Harpootlian in an email to the state's attorneys.

If granted, this request for a 120-day extension would give the state an August 8 deadline to respond to Murdaugh's request for a Supreme Court hearing.

The S.C. Supreme Court has received both parties' motions and responses but has not issued an order or decision.

What led to Alex Murdaugh's murder case appeal?

On Dec. 10, 2024, attorneys for Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, a disbarred Hampton attorney convicted and serving back-to-back life sentences for the June 2021 shooting deaths of his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, filed a motion to appeal those convictions and sentences before the South Carolina Supreme Court.

The appeals were based on allegations of jury tampering by a court official, former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, alleged improper admission of evidence, and other contested matters during the highly publicized trial held in Walterboro.

The S.C. Attorney General's Office has a right to file a motion in response or opposition to this appeal before it can be scheduled for a hearing or arguments before the S.C. Supreme Court.

Murdaugh's attorneys originally agreed to allow AG Alan Wilson's office 90 days to respond, with a deadline of April 10, but now Murdaugh's legal team is vigorously contesting this request for another 120-day extension.

Why does the Attorney General want another extension?

In the April 3 court filing, signed and filed by two S.C. Deputy Attorney Generals, Don Zelenka and Mark Farthing, the state's prosecutors contend that their request for a second extension is due to extraordinary circumstances and is not intended to cause undue delay.

The AG's motion cites:

Murdaugh's appeal is over 121 pages long and raises nine identified issues.
The transcript of the six-week trial is more than 6,000 pages, including additional transcripts from other related hearings and proceedings.
There are numerous recordings and other exhibits of evidence that require review.
The attorneys of the AG's Office have a heavy workload, and the cover email to a Supreme Court clerk cited pending death penalty litigation.

Why is Murdaugh's legal team opposed to a second extension?

For five reasons, Murdaugh's legal team, led by Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, objected to this requested extension. Here are the three primary arguments:

The first reason cited involved the time since the initial appeals process began. Murdaugh was required to file his initial brief on the principal issue, the alleged "jury tampering for personal financial gain," on Aug. 12, 2024.

"If the State’s requested extension is granted, the State will have been given a full year to respond to that brief," writes Murdaugh's team. "Undersigned counsel is unaware of any criminal case—even a capital case—in which a state has been given a full year to respond to a defendant’s appellate brief, whether in South Carolina, some other state, or a federal court."

In response to the AG Office's "heavy workload" argument, Murdaugh's team writes:

"... Appellant appreciates the Office of the Attorney General’s hard work on behalf of South Carolina citizens, but the office has 'about 90 attorneys... And if those attorneys cannot meet reasonable court deadlines in major cases, they can retain outside counsel to assist."

Finally, Murdaugh's team argues that "the State is unlikely to prevail in this appeal, which means that delay is likely to prejudice" Murdaugh, adding that unless "the State has developed an unexpectedly strong counterargument that for some reason it is unwilling to reveal to the Court anytime soon, it is likely Appellant’s murder convictions will be overturned, and the requested briefing delay would serve only to delay the relief to which Appellant is entitled."

While Murdaugh is serving two life sentences without possibility of parole, a successful murder conviction appeal and retrial effort will not equate to freedom.

Murdaugh, who has steadfastly denied killing his family members since his arrest in 2021, has pleaded guilty to numerous financial crimes in both state and federal courts and is currently facing lengthy prison sentences in both jurisdictions after stealing millions from law partners and clients.

Source: greenvilleonline.com, Michael M. DeWitt, Jr. , April 7, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

Comments

Florida executes Billy Kearse

Florida executes man who killed Fort Pierce police officer during 1991 traffic stop Moments before receiving a lethal injection, Billy Kearse asked for forgiveness from the family of Danny Parrish, whose widow said she found peace after a "long, long 35 years.” A man convicted of fatally shooting a police officer with his own service weapon during a traffic stop was executed Tuesday evening, becoming the third person put to death by Florida this year after a record 19 executions in 2025.

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Cedric Ricks is set to be killed on March 11 Cedric Ricks spoke in his own defense at his 2013 murder trial, something most defendants accused of a terrible crime do not do. Ricks confessed that he had killed his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son. He admitted he was aggressive and had trouble controlling his anger, stating that he was “sorry about everything.” The Tarrant County jury was unmoved. Ricks has spent the last 13 years on death row and is scheduled to be executed on March 11.

Maldives | Death penalty law for drug trafficking now in effect

MALÉ, Maldives (DPN) — The Maldives has officially brought into force an amendment to its Narcotics Act that introduces the death penalty for large-scale drug trafficking, marking a significant and controversial shift in the island nation’s criminal justice policy. The amended law, which took effect Saturday, March 7, 2026, allows for capital punishment in cases involving the smuggling and importation of specific quantities of illicit substances. The move fulfills a key pledge by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration to crack down on the country’s growing narcotics crisis and protect what he has termed the nation’s “100 percent Islamic society.” Thresholds for Capital Punishment Under the new provisions, the death penalty is not a mandatory sentence but an available option for the judiciary when specific criteria are met. The law establishes clear weight thresholds for substances brought into the country: Cannabis: More than 350 grams. Diamorphine (Heroin): More than 250 grams....

Prosecutors seek death penalty in 2 Georgia cases

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in two separate Georgia criminal cases. One involves the killing of a Gwinnett County police officer and another is over the death of a 4-year-old girl in Hall County . Kevin Andrews is charged in the death of 25-year-old Gwinnett County Police Officer Pradeep Tamang, who was shot and killed while investigating a credit card fraud case. Authorities said Andrews had an outstanding warrant and shot at officers without warning. Another officer, David Reed, was seriously injured.

Florida | Governor DeSantis signs death warrant in 2008 murder case

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Michael L. King, setting an execution date of March 17, 2026, at 6 p.m. King was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2008 kidnapping, sexual battery and murder of Denise Amber Lee, a 21-year-old North Port mother. On January 17, 2008, Michael Lee King abducted 21-year-old Denise Amber Lee from her North Port home by forcing her into his green Chevrolet Camaro. He drove her around while she was bound, including to his cousin's house to borrow tools like a shovel. King took her to his home, where he sexually battered her, then placed her in the backseat of his car. Later that evening, he drove to a remote area, shot her in the face, and buried her nude body in a shallow grave. Her remains were discovered two days later. During the crime, multiple 9-1-1 calls were made, but communication breakdowns between emergency dispatch centers delayed the response. The case drew national attention and prompted w...

Former Florida officer who raped, murdered 11-year-old set to be executed

An execution date has been set for a former Mascotte police officer who, in May 1987, assaulted and murdered an 11-year-old girl. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for James Aren Duckett on Friday. He’s scheduled to be executed on March 31. It’ll be the state’s 5th execution this year, following a record 19 executions in 2025. Duckett was convicted in the murder of 11-year-old Teresa McAbee about a year after her death. According to officials, Duckett took the 11-year-old to a lake, where he sexually battered, strangled and drowned her.

Georgia | Death penalty sought against woman in brutal killing of 4-year-old

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Prosecutors in Hall County are seeking the death penalty against a woman accused of the brutal killing of a 4-year-old girl whose body was found in a parked car last fall. In a court filing Monday, the State announced its intent to pursue capital punishment for Jessica Motes, who faces a litany of charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, and first-degree cruelty to children. The case began on Oct. 26, 2025, when authorities discovered the body of 4-year-old Autumn Fox. The child’s remains were found inside the trunk of a vehicle parked at a Sam’s Club in Oakwood, approximately 50 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Chinese courts conclude trials of 2 criminal gangs from northern Myanmar, 16 sentenced to death

Chinese courts have concluded the trials of 2 major criminal groups based in northern Myanmar involved in telecom and online fraud, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said Thursday. At a press conference held by the SPC, it was revealed that by the end of 2025, courts across the country had concluded first-instance trials of over 27,000 cases related to telecom fraud operations in northern Myanmar, with more than 41,000 returned suspects sentenced. Notably, among the trials of the so-called "4 major families" criminal gangs -- which had drawn widespread domestic and international attention -- those of the Ming and Bai groups have completed all judicial proceedings.

Florida Cop-killer Billy Kearse set to be executed today

A man who confessed to fatally shooting Fort Pierce Police Officer Danny Parrish with his own service weapon during a 1991 traffic stop is scheduled to be executed starting at 6 p.m. March 3, barring a last-minute stay. Billy L. Kearse, 53, will be the third person put to death by the state this year, just one week after the execution of Melvin Trotter, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for strangling and stabbing Virgie Langford in Palmetto in 1986. The Florida Supreme Court on Feb. 12 denied a motion for a stay of execution and a motion for an extension due to the fading health and death of the father of Kearse's attorney. Attorneys for Kearse have filed a motion with the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the execution, citing violations of the Sixth, Eighth and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution.

Supreme Court Denies Alabama Appeal, Allowing New Trial in Death Row Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for a new trial for one of Alabama’s longest-serving people on death row after declining to review a lower court ruling that prosecutors violated his constitutional rights by intentionally rejecting Black jurors. According to an article written by the Associated Press, one of the longest-serving death row inmates in Alabama might receive a new trial after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the state’s appeal of a lower court’s ruling that prosecutors had violated his rights by intentionally rejecting Black jurors. According to the article, on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the ruling from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This decision paved the way for Michael Sockwell, the 63-year-old death row inmate, to receive a new trial.

Death Penalty News

Search This Blog