South Carolina Prosecutors Oppose Alex Murdaugh's 2027 Charleston Retrial Bid as Costs Could Triple
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 12
South Carolina Prosecutors Oppose Alex Murdaugh's 2027 Charleston Retrial Bid as Costs Could Triple
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 12
Summary
Wednesday's court filing urged a judge to reject Alex Murdaugh's demand that Charleston be the only venue for his April 2027 murder retrial, calling the request unreasonably expensive and impractical.
Prosecutors said downtown traffic, scarce parking and an influx of jurors, witnesses, media and spectators would strain Charleston, while spring tourism and Masters week could push hotel prices to double or triple comparable areas.
The state also argued Charleston's proximity to Colleton County undercuts the defense claim that a venue change is needed because of publicity, though prosecutors said they would consider alternatives such as Spartanburg, York or Florence.
Murdaugh's lawyers sought the move citing intense local coverage, family ties and courthouse integrity concerns after his original conviction was overturned over jury tampering; he is due at a pretrial hearing Friday at 10 a.m.