In a hearing that could potentially impact the fate of Alex Murdaugh, a juror from his 2023 murder trial has alleged feeling pressured by Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill and other jurors to render a guilty verdict. The hearing, overseen by retired South Carolina Judge Jean Toal, aims to investigate claims of jury tampering by Hill and how it may have influenced Murdaugh's conviction.

During the hearing on Monday morning, a juror identified as Juror Z came forward with startling allegations against Hill. Juror Z stated that Hill instructed the jury to closely monitor Murdaugh's actions and made other comments that raised concerns. "To me, it felt like she made it seem like he was already guilty," Juror Z remarked. When asked by the judge if Hill's comments had an impact on their verdict, Juror Z confirmed that it did.

Juror Z further revealed that the jury's foreperson had mentioned that Murdaugh was "crying on cue," and jurors often discussed the trial outside of the courtroom before deliberations. Additionally, Juror Z claimed that Hill pressured them to speak to television reporters after the trial.

However, a majority of the other jurors who were questioned offered different accounts. Many stated that they had not heard Hill make any comments about Murdaugh, and some denied that such comments were ever made. Among those who admitted to hearing Hill's comments, they maintained that it did not influence their decision to deliver a guilty verdict.

Becky Hill took the stand on Monday afternoon to respond to these allegations.

Previously, Murdaugh's legal team had presented affidavits signed by a juror who voted to convict him, the one who was removed from the jury, and testimony from a paralegal involved in the jury interviews.

Additionally, Toal had heard testimony from a juror publicly identified as Juror X ahead of Monday's hearing. Juror X had been accused by Murdaugh's defense of pressuring the jury to reach a quick verdict to secure a book deal and media appearances related to the trial. However, this opportunity was jeopardized after the trial concluded with a guilty verdict. Moreover, Juror X faced criticism for parts of a book she authored about the trial being plagiarized, leading to the suspension of book sales, and her son being charged with wiretapping.

Judge Toal has expressed her intention to focus on whether Hill's alleged comments to the jury had an inappropriate influence on the final verdict.

Alex Murdaugh, a once-prominent attorney hailing from a politically influential South Carolina family, had received consecutive life sentences in March for the 2021 deaths of his wife and son. His actions also brought renewed attention to the 2018 "trip and fall" death of the family's housekeeper in their home.

In November, Murdaugh was sentenced to 27 years in state prison as part of a plea agreement for financial crimes, admitting to embezzling $12 million from clients over a decade. This plea deal mandated that he serve 85% of his sentence.

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