Story perspectives

Prosecutors Oppose Murdaugh Retrial Move to Charleston County

8/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

South Carolina prosecutors oppose Alex Murdaugh’s request to move his retrial to Charleston County.
Prosecutors say tourism would raise hotel rates and the media market with Colleton County means a venue change would not cut publicity.
The state proposes Spartanburg, Newberry, Lancaster, York or Florence counties as cheaper alternatives.
Murdaugh will appear for a pretrial hearing Friday at 10 a.m. in the Lexington County Courthouse, with the retrial set for April 2027.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial remained in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with DA Gil Garcetti overseeing the case, which drew over 100 million viewers for the October verdict—echoing the city’s earlier race-charged turmoil after the 1992 Rodney King riots. The outcome reinforced a pattern of keeping high-profile cases in their original jurisdictions.

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Story summary

South Carolina prosecutors oppose Alex Murdaugh’s request to move his retrial to Charleston County.
Prosecutors say tourism would raise hotel rates and the media market with Colleton County means a venue change would not cut publicity.
The state proposes Spartanburg, Newberry, Lancaster, York or Florence counties as cheaper alternatives.
Murdaugh will appear for a pretrial hearing Friday at 10 a.m. in the Lexington County Courthouse, with the retrial set for April 2027.

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