Alex Murdaugh’s lawyers say prosecutors are trying to turn his next courtroom appearance into a spectacle.The convicted former Lowcountry lawyer had asked to appear unshackled and in civilian clothes at trial and in televised pretrial hearings as he awaits a new murder trial in the killings of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul.But after prosecutors accused him of seeking special treatment, Murdaugh’s defense team withdrew the request, saying they would not waste court time arguing over "the optics" of a status conference."If the State wants to use that for a public spectacle, so be it," the defense wrote."Mr.
Murdaugh will not waste the Court’s time at the upcoming status conference arguing about the optics.""Mr.Murdaugh will not waste the Court’s time at the upcoming status conference arguing about the optics."MURDAUGH DEFENSE FIGHTS OVER DEATH PENALTY, VENUE CHANGE AND EVIDENCE – WHAT COULD CHANGE IN SECOND TRIALAlex Murdaugh is found guilty on all counts of the murder of his wife and son at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., on March 2, 2023.
(Joshua Boucher/Pool)South Carolina prosecutors had urged a Colleton County judge to deny the motion, arguing that Murdaugh’s fame does not entitle him to be treated differently from other inmates.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XMurdaugh remains in state custody on financial-crime convictions and is serving a 27-year sentence, prosecutors said.He is also serving a concurrent 40-year federal sentence tied to similar crimes.BECKY HILL’S 'DISGRACEFUL' COMMENTS AND BOOK AMBITIONS UNRAVELED ALEX MURDAUGH'S MURDER CONVICTION: DOCSHis murder convictions were reversed in May by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which ordered new proceedings after finding improper interference by the former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca "Becky" Hill.SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTERBut the state said the reversal does not change Murdaugh’s status as an inmate or the security concerns surrounding him....