COLUMBIA, S.C. - The clerk of court in the high-profile murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, accused of killing his wife and son, has denied allegations of tampering with the South Carolina jury that delivered a guilty verdict. Colleton County Clerk of Court, Rebecca Hill, filed a sworn statement on Tuesday, refuting claims that she influenced jurors' opinions before deliberations.

Prosecutors submitted Hill's statement to the judge, arguing against the need for a hearing where jurors, Hill, and other court personnel could be questioned under oath and their messages and texts subpoenaed. The defense team had requested a new trial for Murdaugh based on the alleged actions of the clerk.

The murder trial, which captivated public attention for six weeks, gained notoriety for its mix of privilege, brutality, and power. The judges, lawyers, and the clerk of court, Rebecca Hill, became minor celebrities in their own right.

Prosecutors included statements from nine jurors and an alternate, contradicting the claims made by four jurors, one of whom was dismissed before deliberations, and who had informed Murdaugh's lawyers about Hill's alleged behavior that led to the defense's request to throw out the jury's verdict.

Murdaugh's defense team accused Hill of various actions, including implying Murdaugh's guilt by suggesting that deliberations would not take long and having private conversations with the jury forewoman in a bathroom. They also claimed that Hill handed jurors business cards of media members who wanted interviews before deliberations.

In her sworn statement, Hill refuted all the allegations made by Murdaugh's attorneys and pointed out that there were other false statements she was not asked to address at this time. She specifically debunked the defense's accusation that she fabricated a story about a Facebook post to secure the dismissal of a potentially not guilty-voting juror.

In response to the defense's allegations, the state Attorney General's Office stated, "Only Alex Murdaugh could conceive of such a confounded gambit as even remotely possible, and he is projecting his own calculating, manipulative psyche onto a dedicated public servant in an effort to save himself."

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Alex Murdaugh is currently serving a life sentence without parole for the shooting deaths of his wife and younger son in their home in 2021. Additionally, he is facing federal charges for embezzling millions of dollars from clients and his family law firm, with a separate trial scheduled to begin later this month.

The decision on whether to hold a hearing where jurors could be questioned lies with Judge Clifton Newman, who presided over Murdaugh's trial. However, the defense has requested the South Carolina Supreme Court to remove Newman from both the appeal and any future trials.

The prosecution defended Hill's conduct by presenting statements from interviewed jurors and court workers. These individuals praised the work of Hill and her staff, stating that they felt no pressure to reach a guilty verdict or rush their deliberations.

Prosecutors also argued against the new trial hearing, emphasizing that the jurors have already performed a significant public service and should not be subjected to further stress or unnecessary questioning.

Undoubtedly, the case of Alex Murdaugh has continued to captivate national attention, with its intricate web of accusations, investigations, and courtroom drama. As the legal proceedings continue, the public waits to see if there will be any developments that could impact Murdaugh's conviction or his future trials on additional charges.

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