Murdaugh Team Claims Evidence Was Fabricated in Murder Case

Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers are challenging the murder indictments, saying the Alex Murdaugh murder case was tainted by false testimony and made-up evidence before a Colleton County grand jury. In a motion filed Aug. 7, the defense asked a judge to dismiss the charges and accused the lead South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agent on the case, David Owen, of giving perjurious testimony and presenting fabricated material.

The filing says Owen told the grand jury he had presented physical evidence directly linking Murdaugh to the crimes, even though, according to the defense, he later admitted the evidence was false and had been fabricated by law enforcement. The attorneys described that conduct as prosecutorial misconduct and said they would provide additional detail in a later filing. The same court fight also includes a request to move Murdaugh’s new murder trial out of Colleton County and into Charleston County, where his lawyers argue a fair jury is more likely to be found.

In their venue motion, the defense said the case has created extraordinary publicity and argued that a local trial in Colleton County would be unfair. They wrote that moving the proceedings to nearby Charleston County would keep the case close to home while reducing the effect of local prejudice. The defense also said the level of attention surrounding the case is unlike anything the state has seen.