Alex Murdaugh's is back in court for hearing on his murder retrial

By — Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press Jeffrey Collins, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/alex-murdaughs-is-back-in-court-for-hearing-on-his-murder-retrial Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Alex Murdaugh's is back in court for hearing on his murder retrial Nation Jun 29, 2026 12:41 PM EDT LEXINGTON, South Carolina (AP) — Alex Murdaugh was back in court again Monday on charges he killed his wife and son, appearing silently at a pretrial hearing that was mostly short on substance but long on spectacle as the true crime sensation continues to captivate. READ MORE: Why a court overturned Alex Murdaugh's double murder conviction Murdaugh's murder convictions and sentence of life in prison were overturned last month by the South Carolina Supreme Court. The goals of Monday's hearing were to set deadlines for exchanging evidence between the defense and prosecution, and to figure out dates for other hearings and the next trial, which was set for April 5. Dozens of media outlets, from international agencies to local TV stations to true crime podcasters, were inside the Lexington County courthouse to again chronicle every forehead rub and quizzical look from the once rich and imposing Southern lawyer. "I see we have a full house," Judge Debra R. McCaslin said as the hearing began in the 200-person capacity courtroom. It's a rare chance to see up close how life behind bars has changed the 58-year-old Murdaugh, who still has decades to serve in a South Carolina prison after pleading guilty to stealing about $12 million from clients and his family's law firm. Prosecutors say Murdaugh shot his wife Maggie and younger son Paul, 22, because he believed sympathy over their deaths would buy him time to fix his problems. At that point, his financial crimes were close to being exposed by his law firm and the family of a teen who filed a wrongful death lawsuit after Paul crashed a boat while drinking. Murdaugh wore an orange prison jumpsuit in court Monday, mostly listening with his mouth fixed in a tight line. His lawyers want the judge to let him wear civilian clothing at every hearing and during his retrial. At one point, defense attorney Dick Harpootlian asked Murdaugh to stand. "Chains around the hands, chain around the waist, chains on his feet," Harpootlian noted to the judge, saying he thinks jurors would be prejudiced if they see his client shackled like dangerous criminal, when he's only been convicted of financial crimes. The prosecution argued that it's standard for imprisoned defendants to wear restraints and jumpsuits. "Every time someone is transferred out of court, it is a security risk," Creighton Waters said. Defense lawyers want Murdaugh, who was disbarred during his legal troubles, to have access to a laptop in prison without internet access to review evidence so they don't have to print and deliver it all. Harpootlian said Monday there are more