Full Breakdown
New Allegations Over Polygraph Claims in Alex Murdaugh Retrial
8/20/2026, 9:57:45 PM
Background of Conviction and Overturn
Alex Murdaugh was convicted in 2023 of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, and received two consecutive life sentences. The convictions were vacated after a South Carolina Supreme Court decision found that court clerk Becky Hill had improperly influenced jurors, allowing a second trial to be scheduled for April 2027. Murdaugh remains incarcerated on a 40-year federal sentence for financial-crime offenses pleaded to in 2024.
Prosecutors’ Accusations and Defense Admission
State prosecutors filed a new document alleging that Murdaugh’s attorney, Dick Harpootlian, misrepresented the existence and outcome of a polygraph test during the 2023 murder trial. The filing states that Murdaugh never took a lie-detector test at that time and that the only polygraph he completed was an FBI-administered exam in October 2023, which the state says he failed while attempting “possible countermeasures.” In response, Harpootlian sent a letter to Judge Debra McCaslin apologizing for the inaccurate courtroom statement and acknowledging that he had “mistakenly conflated several facts.”
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutors argue that any mention of polygraph results should be barred from the upcoming trial because of “questionable reliability.” The defense has requested that the retrial be moved out of Colleton County, proposing Richland County as a venue, while the state has suggested alternative locations across South Carolina.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mr. Murdaugh passed a polygraph. Flying colors. Same polygrapher. It may play a role in this trial.” — Dick Harpootlian, against murdaugh's attorney
- “I want to offer my apology to both the court and state for any confusion I may have caused.” — Dick Harpootlian, against murdaugh's attorney
- “I am saying that it’s an issue, not now, but much closer to trial that we need to be able to litigate. And there may be others,” — Dick Harpootlian, against murdaugh's attorney
- “I will tell you, Mr. Murdaugh passed a polygraph. Flying colors. Same polygrapher. It may play a role in this trial. I’m not willing to concede that no under any circumstances can a polygraph be used. I’m just giving you this example of Eddie Smith failing the polygraph and them [the state] relying on it to cancel his deal.” — Autoplay Prosecutors
Upcoming Proceedings
Judge McCaslin has set a tentative April 2027 date for the second murder trial and ruled that it will not be held in Colleton County. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for November in Lexington County, after which the court will consider venue and evidentiary rulings related to the disputed polygraph testimony.
